Superior Court of Pennsylvania

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 cover, TOC, tables of citations, proof of service, addendum; certification required if principal brief >30 pp. or reply >15 pp.; cross-appeal 16,500; capital direct 17,500/8,500; capital PCRA 22,500/11,250

Rules

Pennsylvania Rules of Appellate Procedure — Pa.R.A.P. 124(a); Pa.R.A.P. 2135

Parts of the brief, in order

1. Cover — Required · Pa.R.A.P. 2172
2. TABLE OF CONTENTS — Required · Pa.R.A.P. 2174
3. TABLE OF CITATIONS — Required · Pa.R.A.P. 2174
4. STATEMENT OF JURISDICTION — Required · Pa.R.A.P. 2111(a)(1), 2114
5. ORDER OR OTHER DETERMINATION IN QUESTION — Required · Pa.R.A.P. 2111(a)(2), 2115
6. STATEMENT OF SCOPE AND STANDARD OF REVIEW — Required · Pa.R.A.P. 2111(a)(3)
7. STATEMENT OF THE QUESTIONS INVOLVED — Required · Pa.R.A.P. 2111(a)(4), 2116
8. STATEMENT OF THE CASE — Required · Pa.R.A.P. 2111(a)(5), 2117
9. SUMMARY OF ARGUMENT — Required · Pa.R.A.P. 2111(a)(6), 2118
10. STATEMENT OF REASONS FOR ALLOWANCE OF APPEAL (discretionary aspects of sentence) — If applicable · Pa.R.A.P. 2111(a)(7), 2119(f)
11. ARGUMENT — Required · Pa.R.A.P. 2111(a)(8), 2119
12. CONCLUSION — Required · Pa.R.A.P. 2111(a)(9)
13. Opinions below / relevant pleadings — Required · Pa.R.A.P. 2111(a)(10),(b),(c)
14. Statement of errors complained of on appeal (Pa.R.A.P. 1925(b)) or averment none ordered — If applicable · Pa.R.A.P. 2111(a)(11),(d)
15. Certificates of compliance (Rule 127 public access; Rule 2135(d) word count) — Required · Pa.R.A.P. 2111(a)(12)
16. PROOF OF SERVICE — Required · Pa.R.A.P. 121

Argument headings: Argument divided into as many parts as questions, each with a distinctively displayed heading matching the Statement of Questions Involved, with discussion and citation of authorities and record references (Pa.R.A.P. 2119(a),(c)).

Standard of review: Separate statement of scope and standard of review before questions (Pa.R.A.P. 2111(a)(3))

Record citations: (R.R. 12a); supplemental (S.R.R. 3b)

Reproduced Record

Required. Pages are numbered like 12a. (Pa.R.A.P. 2151-2156, 2173)

• relevant docket entries
• relevant portions of pleadings, charge, findings, opinions
• judgment/order appealed
• other parts of record to which parties wish to direct the court

Pages numbered 1a, 2a... continuous across volumes; exemptions for IFP/pro se and some criminal cases (Pa.R.A.P. 2151).

Certificates

• Compliance: Word-count certification (Pa.R.A.P. 2135(d)) and public-access/confidential-information certification (Pa.R.A.P. 127)
• Service: Proof of service (Pa.R.A.P. 121)

Good to know

• Must append Pa.R.A.P. 1925(b) statement (or averment none ordered) — Superior Court specific (2111(a)(11),(d)).
• Criminal discretionary-sentencing challenges require Rule 2119(f) statement.
• Font: text >=14 pt, footnotes >=12 pt; first page 3-inch top space (Pa.R.A.P. 124).

Filing: PACFile e-filing (UJS portal)