Where can I find information about electronic filing and the Appellate Case Management/Electronic Case Files (“CM/ECF”) system?
All information about electronic filing and Appellate CM/ECF is available at http://www.ca9.uscourts.gov/cmecf/
What color should I use for the cover of my brief?
| Opening Brief by appellant and petitioner: | Blue |
| Answering Brief by appellee and respondent: | Red |
| Reply Brief: | Gray |
| Brief by amicus and intervenor: | Green |
| Second Brief on Cross-appeal: | Red |
| Third Brief on Cross-appeal: | Yellow |
| Supplemental Brief: | Tan |
Additional FAQs regarding briefs can be found at http://www.ca9.uscourts.gov/cmecf/faqs/
What are the page or word count limitations for my brief?
The length of a principal brief may not exceed 14,000 words or, if handwritten or typewritten, 50 pages. Reply briefs may not exceed 7,000 words or, if handwritten or typewritten, 25 pages. See 9th Circuit Rule 32-1.
Additional FAQs regarding briefs can be found at http://www.ca9.uscourts.gov/cmecf/faqs/
What belongs in the Excerpts of Record and what color is the cover?
Please read 9th Circuit Rule 30-1 (or 17-1 for agency appeals) for an explanation of the contents of the Excerpts of Record. Excerpts are required to be electronically submitted unless the filer is exempt, and the paper copies have white covers.
Sealed excerpts are now required to be filed electronically unless the filer is exempt, as are the pre-sentence reports, which should not be included in the excerpts. See Interim 9th Circuit Rule 27-13.
Unrepresented litigants are not required to file Excerpts of Record.
Petitioners challenging an order of the Board of Immigration Appeals are exempted from the Excerpts requirement but must include an addendum (the decision by the immigration judge and/or Board of Immigration Appeals) which should be bound with the brief pursuant to 9th Circuit Rule 28-2.7.
Additional FAQs regarding excerpts can be found at http://www.ca9.uscourts.gov/cmecf/faqs/
If I filed a document electronically, how many paper copies should I send to the Court?
Briefs: 7 copies, but send paper copies to the Court only after you receive an order requesting them.
Excerpts: 4 copies, but send paper copies to the Court only after you receive an order requesting them.
Everything else: None, unless the Court orders you to submit paper copies.
If I am filing a document by paper and not electronically via the Appellate ECF system, how many paper copies should I send to the Court?
Attorneys must file ALL documents (except original petitions) electronically via the Appellate ECF system, unless they have obtained an exemption from the Court.
For Unrepresented and Exempt Filers:
Briefs: Original + 7 copies of the brief Excerpts of Record: 4 copies
Everything else: Only the original paper document
At its discretion, the Court may order that additional paper copies of any document be filed.
For a copy stamped “Filed” (a “conformed copy”), please provide an extra copy of the document along with a self-addressed label.
How can I obtain a copy of the 9th Circuit Rules or General Orders?
Both documents are available for free at http://www.ca9.uscourts.gov under Rules.
You can trust Cockle Legal Briefs to help prepare your Appellate Brief. We take pride in our efficient and detail-oriented process. As our client, you can expect all of the following: expert consultation from one of our 9th Circuit specialists; professional proofreading and review for rule compliance; a properly formatted Legal Brief that meets the 9th Circuit’s requirements; and your Brief will be printed, bound, and filed by its deadline.