The brief should be bound on the left side (see 22 NYCRR 1250.6 [c]).
Cover.
The cover must set forth the title of the action or proceeding.
The upper right-hand section must contain a notation stating: whether the cause is to be argued or submitted; if it is to be argued, the time actually required for the argument; and the name of the attorney who will argue.
The lower right-hand section must contain the name, address, telephone number and email address of the attorney filing the brief and shall indicate whom the attorney represents. (22 NYCRR 1250.8(a))
Appellant's Brief.
The appellant's brief must include, in the following order:
(1) a table of contents, which must include:
(i) a list of point headings and (ii) the contents of the appendix, if it is not bound separately, with references to the initial page of each document included and of the direct, cross and redirect examination of each witness;
(2) a table of cases (alphabetically arranged), statutes and other authorities, indicating the pages of the brief where they are cited;
(3) a concise statement, not exceeding two pages, of the questions involved, set forth separately and followed immediately by the answer, if any, of the court from which the appeal is taken;
(4) a concise statement of the nature of the case and of the facts which should be known to determine the questions involved, with appropriate citations to the reproduced record, appendix, original record or agreed statement in lieu of record;
(5) the argument for the appellant, which shall be divided into points by appropriate headings distinctively printed; (6) a statement certifying compliance with printing requirements under this Part, on a form approved by the court, as set forth in subdivision (j) of this section;
(7) in the First and Second Judicial Departments, the appellant's brief shall include as an addendum the statement required by CPLR 5531;
(8) in the First and Second Judicial Departments, in any civil cause permitted to be heard on the original record, the appellant's brief shall include: (i) a copy of the order or judgment appealed from and the decision, if any; (ii) a copy of the opinion and findings, if any, of a hearing officer and the determination and decision of any administrative department, board or agency; and (iii) a copy of the notice of appeal or order transferring the proceeding to this court. (22 NYCRR 1250.8(b))
Respondent's Brief.
The respondent's brief must conform to the requirements of 22 NYCRR 1250.8 (b), except that a counterstatement of the questions involved or a counterstatement of the nature and facts of the case shall be included only if the respondent disagrees with the statement of the appellant. (22 NYCRR 1250.8(c))
Reply Brief.
Any reply brief of the appellant or cross appellant shall conform to the requirements of 22 NYCRR 1250.8 (b),, without repetition.
An appellant's reply in a cross appeal shall include the points of argument in response to the cross appeal. (22 NYCRR 1250.8(d))
Sur-reply Brief.
Absent leave of the court, sur-reply briefs are not permitted. (22 NYCRR 1250.8(e))
Computer-generated briefs.
Briefs prepared on a computer shall be printed in either a serifed, proportionally spaced typeface such as Times Roman, or a serifed, monospaced typeface such as Courier. Narrow or condensed typefaces and/or condensed font spacing may not be used. Except in headings and in quotations of language that appears in such type in the original source, words may not be in bold type or type consisting of all capital letters.
(i) Briefs set in a proportionally spaced typeface. The body of a brief utilizing a proportionally spaced typeface shall be printed in 14-point type, but footnotes may be printed in type of no less than 12 points. (ii) Briefs set in a monospaced typeface. The body of a brief utilizing a monospaced typeface shall be printed in 12-point type containing no more than 101/2 characters per inch, but footnotes may be printed in type of no less than 10 points. (22 NYCRR 1250.8(f)(1))
Computer-generated appellants' and respondents' briefs shall not exceed 14,000 words, and reply and amicus curiae briefs shall not exceed 7,000 words, inclusive of point headings and footnotes and exclusive of signature blocks and pages including the table of contents, table of citations, proof of service, certificate of compliance, or any addendum authorized pursuant to subdivision (k) of this section. (22 NYCRR 1250.8(f)(2))
Typewritten briefs.
(1) Typewritten briefs shall be neatly prepared in clear type of no less than elite in size and in a pitch of no more than 12 characters per inch. The original of the brief shall be signed and filed as one of the number of copies required by section 1250.9 of this Part. (2) Typewritten appellants' and respondents' briefs shall not exceed 50 pages and reply briefs and amicus curiae briefs shall not exceed 25 pages, exclusive of pages containing the table of contents, table of citations, proof of service, certificate of compliance, or any addendum authorized pursuant to subdivision (k) of this section. (22 NYCRR 1250.8(g))
Margins, line spacing and page numbering of computer-generated and typewritten briefs.
Computer-generated and typewritten briefs shall have margins of one inch on all sides of the page. Text shall be double-spaced, but quotations more than two lines long may be indented and single-spaced. Headings and footnotes may be single-spaced. Pages shall be numbered consecutively. (22 NYCRR 1250.8(h))
Handwritten briefs.
(1) Self-represented litigants and persons filing pro se supplemental briefs may serve and file handwritten briefs. Such briefs shall be neatly prepared in cursive script or hand printing in black or blue ink. (2) Handwritten appellants' and respondents' briefs shall not exceed 50 pages and reply briefs and amicus curiae briefs shall not exceed 25 pages, exclusive of pages containing the table of contents, table of citations, proof of service, certificate of compliance or any addendum authorized pursuant to subdivision (k). Pages shall be numbered consecutively. The submission of handwritten briefs is not encouraged. If illegible, handwritten briefs may be rejected for filing by the clerk. (22 NYCRR 1250.8(i))
Printing Specifications Statement.
Every brief, except those that are handwritten, shall have at the end thereof a printing specifications statement, stating that the brief was prepared either on a typewriter, a computer or by some other specified means. If the brief was typewritten, the statement shall further specify the size and pitch of the type and the line spacing used. If the brief was prepared on a computer, the statement shall further specify the name of the typeface, point size, line spacing and word count. A party preparing the statement may rely on the word count of the processing system used to prepare the brief. The signing of the brief in accordance with section 130-1.1-a (a) of this Title shall also be deemed the signer's representation of the accuracy of the statement. (22 NYCRR 1250.8(j))
Addenda
Briefs may include addenda that are composed exclusively of decisions, statutes, ordinances, rules, regulations, local laws, or other similar matter cited therein that were not published or that are not otherwise readily available. (22 NYCRR 1250.8(k))
Material that may be included as an addendum to a brief. If an appeal or proceeding is prosecuted on the original papers, the appellant's or petitioner's brief must include either an addendum containing a copy of the notice of appeal, the order or judgment appealed from, and the opinion or decision of the court, if any, or a copy of the order transferring the proceeding to this court (22 NYCRR 1250.8[b][8]). Exhibits that may be omitted from the record Exhibits should be printed in the record, to the extent practicable (see 22 NYCRR 1250.7 [b] [4]). Parties may stipulate that particular exhibits are not relevant or necessary to the determination of the appeal or are being withheld because they are of a bulky or dangerous nature, and will be delivered to the Court on notice (see 22 NYCRR 1250.7 [c]).