Kansas Supreme Court

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

Format

Type: Times New Roman 12 pt, double-spaced
Margins: 1-inch margins
Opening brief: 50 pages
Reply brief: 15 pages
What counts: Excludes cover, TOC, appendix, certificate of service. Appellee/cross-appellant 60 pp; cross-appellee reply 25 pp; amicus 15 pp.
Rules: Rules Adopted by the Kansas Supreme Court (Chapter 6, Appellate Practice) — Kan. S. Ct. R. 6.07(a); Kan. S. Ct. R. 6.07(c)

Parts of the brief, in order

Cover — Required · 6.07(b)
TABLE OF CONTENTS (with authorities by issue) — Required · 6.02(a)(1)
NATURE OF THE CASE — Required · 6.02(a)(2)
STATEMENT OF THE ISSUES — Required · 6.02(a)(3)
STATEMENT OF FACTS — Required · 6.02(a)(4)
ARGUMENTS AND AUTHORITIES — Required · 6.02(a)(5)
CONCLUSION — Optional
Signature block — Required
CERTIFICATE OF SERVICE — Required
APPENDIX — Optional · 6.02(b)

Argument headings: Arguments separated by issue; each issue begins with citation to the standard of review and a pinpoint record reference to where the issue was raised and ruled on, or an explanation why it is properly before the court if not raised below. TOC lists each issue with authorities relied on.

Standard of review: For each issue, at the start of its argument (6.02(a)(5)).

Record citations: (R. [volume], [page]) — keyed to record volume and page (6.02(a)(4))

Appendix

Optional. Pages are numbered like A12. (Kan. S. Ct. R. 6.02(b))

limited extracts of the record of critical importance

Supplements, does not replace, record volume/page citations.

Certificates

Service: Certificate of service

Good to know

Font: conventional style not smaller than 12 pt, max 12 characters/inch; suggested 13-pt Times New Roman, Book Antiqua, Century Schoolbook, Palatino Linotype.
Text area must not exceed 6.5 x 9 inches (excluding pagination) instead of stated margins.
Footnotes should be avoided; must begin on same page as referenced text.
Page limits only (no word-count option) per rule text read; rule 6.07 page showed 2016 effective date.
Kansas Appellate Courts Citation and Style Guide (2025) also applies to citation form.

Filing: Kansas appellate electronic filing (PDF) for attorneys.

Questions

What font and spacing does the Kansas Supreme Court require for briefs?

Times New Roman 12 pt, double-spaced; 1-inch margins (Kan. S. Ct. R. 6.07(a)).

How long can an opening brief be in the Kansas Supreme Court?

50 pages (Kan. S. Ct. R. 6.07(c)). Reply brief: 15 pages.

What goes in the appendix?

Appendix: limited extracts of the record of critical importance.