Arizona

Criminal Procedure

Criminal Procedure

Rule 31.12 – Length and of Briefs

(a) Length of Briefs.

(1)Opening/Answering Briefs. Opening briefs and answering briefs must not exceed 14,000 words.
(2)Reply Briefs. Reply briefs must not exceed 7,000 words.
(3)Combined Briefs. If a party is filing a combined brief involving a cross-appeal, each separate portion of the combined brief must not exceed the number of words that each of the separate briefs may contain.
(4)Amicus Curiae Briefs. Amicus curiae briefs or responses to amicus curiae briefs must not exceed 12,000 words.
(5)Certificate of Compliance. Every brief must be accompanied by a certificate that confirms compliance with the word limits in (a)(1)-(4). Form 30 is a template certificate of compliance. A party preparing a certificate of compliance may rely on the word count of the word processing system used to prepare the brief if it counts the required words, including any footnotes.
(b) Format. Paper and electronic briefs must comply with the format requirements of Rule 1.6(b)-(c), except that the text and any footnotes in a typed brief must use at least a 14-point typeface. The first page of the brief must contain a caption that includes the information specified in Rule 1.6(a).
(c) Paper Filing.

(1)Binding. A party must securely bind a paper brief, for example by clipping or banding the pages, but the binding must not use adhesives. The Supreme Court and Division One discourage the use of devices such as staples or two-pronged fasteners that perforate the pages of the brief.
(2)Cover Page. A paper brief must have a separate cover page that contains the caption.

Ariz. R. Crim. P. 31.12

Added by August 31, 2017, effective January 1, 2018.

HISTORICAL AND STATUTORY NOTES

Former Rule 31.12, relating to form of motions, was abrogated effective January 1, 2018. See, now, AZ ST RCRP Rule 31.13.

Former Rule 31.12, relating to authorized an appellant or cross-appellant to file a request to file a request to file a brief and required that the request be supported by a statement of the issues, was deleted effective August 1, 1975.