Supreme Court of Maryland

Format

Type

Times New Roman 13 pt, double-spaced

Margins

1-inch margins

Opening brief

13,000 words

Reply brief

6,500 words

What counts

Excludes table of contents, table of citations, statutory text and certification; see Rule 8-503(d)

Rules

Maryland Rules, Title 8 (Appellate Review) — Md. Rule 8-112; Admin. Order on fonts (Sept. 27, 2023); Md. Rule 8-503(d)(1),(3)

Parts of the brief, in order

1. Cover — Required · Md. Rule 8-503(b)-(c)
2. TABLE OF CONTENTS — Required · Md. Rule 8-504(a)(1)
3. TABLE OF CITATIONS — Required · Md. Rule 8-504(a)(1)
4. STATEMENT OF THE CASE — Required · Md. Rule 8-504(a)(2)
5. QUESTIONS PRESENTED — Required · Md. Rule 8-504(a)(3)
6. STATEMENT OF FACTS — Required · Md. Rule 8-504(a)(4)
7. STANDARD OF REVIEW — Required · Md. Rule 8-504(a)(5)
8. ARGUMENT — Required · Md. Rule 8-504(a)(6)
9. CONCLUSION — Required · Md. Rule 8-504(a)(7)
10. PERTINENT CONSTITUTIONAL PROVISIONS, STATUTES, AND RULES — Required · Md. Rule 8-504(a)(8)
11. CERTIFICATION OF WORD COUNT AND COMPLIANCE WITH RULE 8-112 — Required · Md. Rules 8-503(g), 8-504(a)(9)
12. CERTIFICATE OF SERVICE — Required · Md. Rule 1-323

Argument headings: Argument follows Questions Presented; numbered/lettered headings customary (not prescribed).

Standard of review: Concise statement of the standard of review for each issue, either in the discussion of the issue or under a separate heading before the argument (Md. Rule 8-504(a)(5)).

Record citations: (E. 12) for record extract; (App. 12) for brief appendix; transcripts by date and page

Record Extract

Required. Pages are numbered like E. 12. (Md. Rule 8-501)

• table of contents
• relevant docket entries
• judgment appealed from
• opinion / findings
• jury instructions (if at issue)
• other parts of record reasonably necessary

Record extract previously filed in the Appellate Court may be relied on where permitted; confirm under Rule 8-501.

Certificates

• Compliance: Certification of Word Count and Compliance with Rule 8-112 (form in Rule 8-503(g))
• Service: Certificate of service per Md. Rule 1-323

Good to know

• Fonts approved by Supreme Court under Rule 8-112(c)(1): Arial Nova, Bookman Old Style, Century Schoolbook, Georgia, Georgia Pro, Helvetica, Lexend, Times New Roman (eff. Jan. 1, 2024).
• Double spacing required except headings, indented quotations and footnotes (1.5 spacing option eliminated 2016).
• Rule 8-503(d)(5) (eff. July 1, 2026): images may be used only for demonstrative purposes and not to avoid word limits.
• Record extract (Rule 8-501) is normally filed by appellant; brief exact order of items per Rule 8-504(a) should be confirmed against current rule text.
• Paper-copy count reduced from 8 to 5 effective July 1, 2026; court web pages may still say 8.
• Briefs securely bound along left margin; no plastic covers (paper copies).

Filing: MDEC mandatory for attorneys (Md. Rule 20-404) plus paper copies (5 copies to file, 1 to serve, from July 1, 2026 amendments to Rule 8-502)