Nevada 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 or 30 pages
Reply brief: 7,000 words or 15 pages
What counts: Excludes disclosure statement, TOC, TOA, signature blocks, required certificates; page limit OR type-volume (word) alternative with certificate
Rules: Nevada Rules of Appellate Procedure — NRAP 32(a)(4)-(5); NRAP 32(a)(7)

Parts of the brief, in order

Cover — Required · NRAP 32(a)(1)
NRAP 26.1 DISCLOSURE — If applicable · NRAP 28(a)(1), 26.1
TABLE OF CONTENTS — Required · NRAP 28(a)(2)
TABLE OF AUTHORITIES — Required · NRAP 28(a)(3)
JURISDICTIONAL STATEMENT — Required · NRAP 28(a)(4)
ROUTING STATEMENT — Required · NRAP 28(a)(5), 17
STATEMENT OF THE ISSUES — Required · NRAP 28(a)(6)
STATEMENT OF THE CASE — Required · NRAP 28(a)(7)
SUMMARY OF THE ARGUMENT — Required · NRAP 28(a)
ARGUMENT — Required · NRAP 28(a)
CONCLUSION — Required · NRAP 28(a)
CERTIFICATE OF COMPLIANCE — Required · NRAP 28.2, 32(a)(9)
CERTIFICATE OF SERVICE — Required · NRAP 25

Argument headings: Argument by issue with contentions, reasons and citations to authorities and appendix.

Standard of review: For each issue, concise statement of the standard of review, in the discussion or under a separate heading before the issues (NRAP 28(a)).

Record citations: Volume and page of the appendix, e.g., (1 AA 12) — NRAP 28(e)

Appendix

Required. Pages are numbered like A12. (NRAP 30)

alphabetical index and chronological index (separate document)
notice of appeal
judgment/order appealed
pleadings, orders, and other record documents necessary
transcripts necessary for review
exhibits (if material)

Joint appendix encouraged; volumes paginated consecutively; searchable PDF required except exhibits that cannot be imaged searchably (2024 amendments). Contents list approximate.

Certificates

Compliance: NRAP 28.2 attorney certificate: brief complies with NRAP 32(a)(4)-(6) formatting and type-volume limits (typeface, size, word count); brief stricken unless supplied within 14 days if omitted
Service: Certificate of service
NRAP 26.1 disclosure statement

Good to know

2024 amendments (eff. Aug. 15, 2024) removed the separate Statement of Facts—relevant facts go in the Statement of the Case.
Monospaced alternative: max 10.5 cpi.
Capital cases: 80 pages / 37,000 words for opening/answering.
All appeals are filed in the Supreme Court; cases are routed (pushed down) to the Court of Appeals under NRAP 17.

Filing: Nevada Supreme Court eFlex e-filing (mandatory for attorneys); text-searchable PDF

Questions

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

Times New Roman 14 pt, double-spaced; 1-inch margins (NRAP 32(a)(4)-(5)).

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

14,000 words or 30 pages (NRAP 32(a)(7)). Reply brief: 7,000 words or 15 pages.

What goes in the appendix?

Appendix: alphabetical index and chronological index (separate document); notice of appeal; judgment/order appealed; pleadings, orders, and other record documents necessary; transcripts necessary for review; exhibits (if material).