The filing requirements in the thirteen federal circuit courts are complex, and often confusing. In addition to the Federal Rules of Appellate Procedure, each circuit court operates under its own set of local rules—mandatory practice standards that periodically change, and sometimes conflict with the federal rules—and the various clerks’ offices often adhere to unwritten practices [...]
How to write a legal brief. Putting together the Appendix of your Brief can be confusing. This blog will offer an easy-to-follow outline of what to include and how to gather the information. Some documents—like Petitions—have required Appendix elements. Appendix documents cannot simply be photocopied, but must be typeset to the same standards as a [...]
Today in Supreme Court History. On this day in 2014, the Supreme Court issued a landmark decision in Burwell v. Hobby Lobby Stores, Inc. In a 5-4 ruling, the Court held that the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) regulations implementing the Affordable Care Act (ACA) cannot force a "closely held company" to cover [...]
“Have you ever sat alone in a high mountain pass, watching an American eagle wheeling across a broad, blue sky? If you have, then you know why I prepare Appellate Briefs.” Sean C. Bradley, Esq. Previously, I wrote a blog about how we at Cockle Legal Briefs love America and Why We Love [...]
Where can I find information about electronic filing and the Appellate Electronic Case Files ("ECF") system? All information about electronic filing and Appellate ECF is available at http://www.ca9.uscourts.gov/cmecf/ A list of frequently asked questions ("FAQs") concerning Appellate ECF is available at http://www.ca9.uscourts.gov/cmecf/faqs What color should I use for the cover of my brief? Opening Brief [...]
Amicus curiae briefs are submitted by non-parties to a case as a way of introducing information and concerns to the Court, demonstrating that a case’s outcome may have wider effects beyond the immediate parties to the suit. They can provide valuable assistance to the Court in its deliberations by presenting an argument or citing authorities [...]
There may be an impulse to make a brief intricate, detailed, and complex in order to prove a point, but that method will backfire. Instead, the Supreme Court justices prefer simple clarity. Here are a few tips on how to accomplish clean copy when writing a legal brief. Legal writing expert Bryan Garner has had [...]
Pro se is a legal term that comes from Latin, meaning "for oneself, on one's own behalf." It basically means that an individual is representing him- or herself in court by choice without the help of an attorney. People may choose to represent themselves in court for a variety of reasons. Some want to avoid [...]
“Cockle Legal Briefs is the nation’s leading Supreme Court brief printer. The Supreme Court is an institution dedicated to upholding our sacred ideals of Constitutional democracy. So, Cockle equals liberty.” Sean C. Bradley, Esq. “The Supreme Court plays a very important role in our constitutional system of government. First, as the highest court in the [...]
Detailed information on the substance of a Petition for Writ of Certiorari, including the order in which required items are to appear, can be found in Supreme Court Rule 14.1. Per Rule 14.1, “A petition for writ of certiorari shall contain, in the order indicated:” Questions Presented “The questions presented for review, expressed concisely in [...]