How-To: Write an Opening/Principle Brief
Background: | You've appealled a decision from a US District Court |
Problem: | You don't know how to draft a federal appellate brief |
Solution: | You follow this guide for writing an effective federal appellate brief |
I. Definitions
II. Legal Citations
...
(10) the certificate of compliance, if required by Rule 32(g)(1).
III. Samples
# | Link | Comments | ₧ |
---|---|---|---|
1101 | ![]() | ± Pending | 24-11336 | TBD case. Pro Se Filing | USFLMD | Title VII; Clear Error; Manifest Injustice; Fraud upon the Court... | ![]() |
1101 | ![]() | ✓ Reversed & Remanded | 21-11901 | TBD case. Pro Se Filing | USFLND | §1983 Case; Perjury from a Judge... | ![]() |
1102 | ![]() | X Affirmed | 04-02291 | Carnero v Boston; Accounting Fraud; Whistleblower; Addendum Attached; | ![]() |
1103 | ![]() | X Denied | 20-10843 | Woods v Alabama; Prisoner Execution; Lethal Injection; Due Process, Equal Protection, | ![]() |
1104 | ![]() | X Affirmed | 10-11052 | Locke v Shore; Interior Design; Constitutional Challenge; §1983; Due Process; Equal Protection | ![]() |
1105 | ![]() | ✓ Reversed & Remanded | 18-14934 | Taylor v Polhill; Hearing Aids; State Laws preempted by Federal Laws; | ![]() |
1106 | ![]() | ± Possibly Settled | 17-13023 | Coleman v Bobby Dodd; Pregnancy Discrimination; Menopause; ACLU Case | ![]() |
1107 | ![]() | ✓ Remanded | 18-10053 | NAACP v Lagrange; Fair Housing Act; Court Debt Policy; | ![]() |
1108 | ![]() | ✓ Reversed & Remanded | 16-10921 | Penaloza v Drummond; Wrongful Death; Colombian Law; | ![]() |
1109 | ![]() | ✓ Remanded | 15-15234 | Evans v Georgia Regional Hospital; LGBTQ Case; | ![]() |
1110 | ![]() | ✓ Reversed | 17-11589 | Code v Public Resource; Copyright Stuff; Amicus; | ![]() |
1111 | ![]() | ✓ Reversed & Remanded | 17-12338 | Stout v Gardendale; School Desegregation | ![]() |
1112 | ![]() | X Affirmed | 19-14267 | Bryant v USA; Amicus Brief; Sentencing Reduction; | ![]() |
# | Type | Description | ₧ |
---|---|---|---|
0601 | ![]() | ± Pending | Fedder v CEMS; ADA; Title VII; §1983; Clear Error; Abuse of Discretion; Plausibility; Contrary to Law; | ![]() |
# | Type | Description | ₧ |
---|---|---|---|
0101 | ![]() | X Affirmed | Carnero v Boston; Accounting Fraud; Whistleblower; Addendum Attached; | ![]() |
IV. Templates
# | Link | Comments | ₧ |
---|---|---|---|
1 | ![]() | USFLMD Version | Replace all placeholder tags (eg "[plfName]" becomes "John Doe"). | ![]() |
V. Quick Commentary
- Best Early: Put your best/strongest arguments towards the beginning of your brief.
- Proper Structure: Compose your opening brief the way the Court prescribes (Rule 28 Fed. R. App. P.)
- Cover Page (see Rule 32-2 11th Cir. R.)
- Certificate of Interested Persons (and Corporate Disclosure Statement)
- Statement Regarding Oral Argument
- Table of Contents
- Table of Authorities
- Introduction
- Jurisdictional Statement
- Statement of the Issues on Appeal
- Statement of the Case
- Standard of Review
- Summary of Argument
- Arguments
- Conclusion
- Certificate of Compliance
- Certificate of Service
- Contents - Rule 28-1 11th Cir. R.
- Format - Rule 32-3 11th Cir. R.
- Page Numbering & Length - Rule 32-4 11th Cir. R.
- Download as many sample documents as you'd like
- Contact TBD for more free samples
- Feel free to use the templates (see Part IV - above) to help draft your 'Opening Brief'
- Save the final version as a PDF file.
- File the final version in court
- Print out seven/four copies of each brief (see Rule 31-3 11th Cir. R.)
- Colors (see Section 9 USCA11 Pro Se Handbook):
- BLUE (for the Opening Brief)
- GRAY (for the Reply Brief)
- Bind them properly (see Rule 32-1 11th Cir. R.)
- Colors (see Section 9 USCA11 Pro Se Handbook):
- Print out two copies of the appendix (see Rule 30-1(d) 11th Cir. R., and Rule 30-2(d) 11th Cir. R.)
- Bind them properly (see Rule 32-1 11th Cir. R.)
- Colors (see Section 9 USCA11 Pro Se Handbook):
- WHITE (for the Appendix)
- Mail each copy
Elbert P. Tuttle Courthouse
11th Circuit Court of Appeals
56 Forsyth Street, NW
Atlanta, GA 30303- access this quick list of FL District Courts of Appeal
- access this quick list of US Circuit Courts of Appeal
VI. Additional Resources
- 11th Circuit's Pro Se Handbook
VII. Conclusion
...POINTS & THINGS...
Please get the justice you deserve.
Sincerely,
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