Within 14 days of the date the appellant receives the completed transcript or the date the appellant is required to file the certificate on Form B indicating that no transcript will be ordered, the appellant must notify the Court in writing of the date by which the appellant's brief will be filed. Unless the case involves a voluminous transcript, the appellant must select a filing date that is within 91 days of receipt of the completed transcript. Appellant's proposed filing date will be so-ordered unless the Court determines the selected filing date is unacceptable. In a counseled criminal appeal, when the Court orders a briefing deadline pursuant to a scheduling notification, the order will specify that if the brief is not timely filed, counsel may be subject to an order to show cause why a financial sanction should not be imposed under LRs 27.1(h) for the default.

Within 14 days of the filing of appellant's brief or the last appellant's brief in a multi-defendant appeal, the appellee must notify the Court in writing of the date by which the appellee's brief will be filed. Unless the case involves a voluminous transcript, the appellee must select a filing date that is within 91 days of the filing of the last appellant's brief. Appellee's proposed filing date will be so-ordered unless the Court determines the selected filing date is unacceptable.

If a cross-appeal has been filed, within 14 days of the filing of the last cross-appellant's brief, the appellant-cross-appellee must notify the Court in writing of the date by which the appellant-cross-appellee's response brief will be due. The appellant-cross-appellee must select a filing date that is within 60 days of the filing of the last cross-appellant's brief.

Absent extraordinary circumstances, an appellant's failure to submit a scheduling letter will result in a briefing deadline of 40 days from the date the completed transcript is received. An appellee's or appellant-cross-appellee's failure to submit a scheduling letter will result in a briefing deadline of 30 days from the date the last appellant's or cross-appellant's brief is filed. If a reply brief is filed, it must be served and filed within 21 days after service of the last appellee's brief (or cross-appellee's brief if a cross-appeal has been filed) but not less than 7 days before argument unless the Court allows a later filing. See LR 31.2(a)(2).

A party's filing of a potentially dispositive motion, a motion for ifp status, or a FRAP 42 stipulation for dismissal without prejudice at any time prior to one of the briefing schedule deadlines set forth above tolls the time period for the filing of scheduling notifications and briefs.

A motion for leave to extend the time to file a brief must be made as soon as practicable after an extraordinary circumstance arises, but an extension of time to file a brief will not be granted in the absence of a most extraordinary circumstance. If a case is dismissed for failure to timely file a brief, a party who moves to reinstate the appeal must file the motion within 14 days of the date of the order dismissing the appeal and must attach the party's brief as an exhibit to the motion. See LRs 27.1(i).

Last modified at 01/27/2021