Idaho Court of Appeals

Brief and appendix rules we apply — State appeal, $299.

Format

Type: Times New Roman 14 pt, double-spaced
Margins: 1-inch margins
Opening brief: 14,000 words
Reply brief: 7,000 words
What counts: Excludes front cover, caption page, TOC, TOA, signature block, certificates of service and compliance, appendices/exhibits. Capital: 28,000/14,000. Handwritten prisoner briefs: 50/25 pages.
Rules: Idaho Appellate Rules — I.A.R. 36(b); I.A.R. 34(b)

Parts of the brief, in order

Cover — Required · I.A.R. 36(a)
TABLE OF CONTENTS — Required · I.A.R. 35(a)(1)
TABLE OF CASES AND AUTHORITIES — Required · I.A.R. 35(a)(2)
STATEMENT OF THE CASE — Required · I.A.R. 35(a)(3)
ISSUES PRESENTED ON APPEAL — Required · I.A.R. 35(a)(4)
ATTORNEY FEES ON APPEAL — If applicable · I.A.R. 35(a)(5)
ARGUMENT — Required · I.A.R. 35(a)(6)
CONCLUSION — Required · I.A.R. 35(a)(7)
Signature block — Required
CERTIFICATE OF COMPLIANCE — Required · I.A.R. 34(b)(4)
CERTIFICATE OF SERVICE — Required

Argument headings: TOC must outline the Argument section; argument cites authorities, statutes, transcript and record; attorney-fee claim on appeal must be stated in its own section with basis or it is waived.

Record citations: (Tr. Vol. I, p. 14, L. 16) / (R. Vol. I, p. 14) — in body text, not footnotes (I.A.R. 35(e))

Addendum

Optional. Pages are numbered like A12. (I.A.R. 35(f))

statutes, rules, regulations, decisions if needed

Real-property disputes require a map/diagram (I.A.R. 35(g)).

Certificates

Compliance: Must state the number of words in the document
Service: Certificate of service required

Good to know

Font must be Times New Roman or Century Schoolbook, black, 14 pt text and footnotes (I.A.R. 36(b)).
Case names italicized or underlined.
Respondent's brief: statement of case only if disagreeing; may add 'Additional Issues on Appeal' (I.A.R. 35(b)).
Refer to parties by names/trial designations, minors by initials (I.A.R. 35(d)).
Pro se parties without word processing may use 12-pt typewritten; prisoners may hand-print (I.A.R. 36(c)-(d)).
Briefs are filed with the Supreme Court clerk and captioned in the Supreme Court; the Supreme Court assigns cases to the Court of Appeals.

Filing: Electronic filing under the Idaho Rules for Electronic Filing and Service (iCourt); one original, no copies (I.A.R. 34).

Questions

What font and spacing does the Idaho Court of Appeals require for briefs?

Times New Roman 14 pt, double-spaced; 1-inch margins (I.A.R. 36(b)).

How long can an opening brief be in the Idaho Court of Appeals?

14,000 words (I.A.R. 34(b)). Reply brief: 7,000 words.

What goes in the appendix?

Addendum: statutes, rules, regulations, decisions if needed.