United States Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit

Format

Type

Times New Roman 14 pt, double-spaced

Margins

1-inch margins

Opening brief

13,000 words or 30 pages

Reply brief

6,500 words or 15 pages

What counts

Excludes cover, disclosure statement, TOC, TOA, glossary, statement regarding oral argument, addendum of statutes/rules, certificates of counsel, signature block, proof of service, and any item the rule exempts (FRAP 32(f)); headings, footnotes, quotations count

Rules

FRAP and Eleventh Circuit Rules and IOPs — FRAP 32(a)(1)-(6); FRAP 32(a)(7), 32(f)

Parts of the brief, in order

1. Cover — Required · FRAP 32(a)(2); 11th Cir. R. 28-1(a)
2. CERTIFICATE OF INTERESTED PERSONS AND CORPORATE DISCLOSURE STATEMENT — Required · 11th Cir. R. 26.1-1; 28-1(b)
3. STATEMENT REGARDING ORAL ARGUMENT — Required · 11th Cir. R. 28-1(c)
4. TABLE OF CONTENTS — Required · 11th Cir. R. 28-1(d)
5. TABLE OF CITATIONS (asterisk authorities chiefly relied on) — Required · 11th Cir. R. 28-1(d)
6. STATEMENT REGARDING ADOPTION OF BRIEFS OF OTHER PARTIES — If applicable · FRAP 28(i); 11th Cir. R. 28-1
7. STATEMENT OF SUBJECT-MATTER AND APPELLATE JURISDICTION — Required · FRAP 28(a)(4)
8. STATEMENT OF THE ISSUES — Required · FRAP 28(a)(5)
9. STATEMENT OF THE CASE (course of proceedings, facts, standard of review) — Required · FRAP 28(a)(6); 11th Cir. R. 28-1
10. SUMMARY OF THE ARGUMENT — Required · FRAP 28(a)(7)
11. ARGUMENT AND CITATIONS OF AUTHORITY — Required · FRAP 28(a)(8)
12. CONCLUSION — Required · FRAP 28(a)(9)
13. CERTIFICATE OF COMPLIANCE — If applicable · FRAP 32(g)
14. CERTIFICATE OF SERVICE — Required · FRAP 25(d)

Argument headings: Argument divided under numbered/lettered point headings (e.g. 'I.', 'A.'); all headings reproduced in TOC; contentions with citations to authorities and the record (FRAP 28(a)(8)(A))

Standard of review: Standard of review for each contention stated within the Statement of the Case (11th Cir. R. 28-1) and again per issue in argument

Record citations: Doc. 47 at 5 / Doc 47 - Pg 5 (document number and page) per 11th Cir. R. 28-5; brief must note format used

Appendix

Required. Pages are numbered like App. 12. (11th Cir. R. 30-1, 30-2)

• index
• district court docket sheet
• relevant pleadings (complaint/answer or indictment)
• relevant pretrial orders
• judgment or interlocutory order appealed
• other orders sought to be reviewed
• opinions, findings, conclusions
• jury instructions if at issue
• other documents (chronological)
• criminal: plea colloquy if contested; sentencing transcript and PSR (PSR sealed separately)

Filed within 7 days after appellant's principal brief. Tabs numbered by district court docket number; white covers; max 250 sheets/volume. Paper: 2 copies (counsel), 1 (pro se), 3 more if argued. Incarcerated pro se parties need not file an appendix.

Certificates

• Compliance: Certificate that the brief complies with the type-volume limit, stating the number of words (or lines) per the word-processing count; Form 6 may be used (FRAP 32(g)(1))
• Service: Proof of service showing date and manner of service, names and addresses (FRAP 25(d)); not required for papers served via CM/ECF on registered users per circuit rule
• Certificate of Interested Persons (CIP) in every brief, pages numbered C-1 of X; title includes case number and first-listed parties; also entered via web-based CIP (11th Cir. R. 26.1-1 to 26.1-3)

Good to know

• Appellee brief may omit jurisdiction, issues, case statement and standard of review unless dissatisfied with appellant's (FRAP 28(b))
• Pro se litigants: FRAP 32 limits apply; handwritten/informal briefs and appendix exemptions vary by circuit (see below)
• Reply brief: cover, CIP, TOC, citations, argument, certificates only
• Summary of argument suggested 2-5 pages (Clerk's sample brief)

Filing: CM/ECF; paper copies of briefs per 11th Cir. R. 31-3 (count not verified); proposed Dec. 2025/Aug. 2026 amendments would exempt incarcerated pro se from paper copies and require criminal counsel to state incarceration status