United States Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit

Federal and Local Rules of Appellate Procedure

December 1, 2024

Appendix:

Length Limits Stated in the Federal Rules of Appellate Procedure

 

This chart summarizes the length limits stated in the Federal Rules of Appellate Procedure. Please refer to the rules for precise requirements, and bear in mind the following:

 

•	In computing these limits, you can exclude the items listed in Rule 32(f).

 

•	If you use a word limit or a line limit (other than the word limit in Rule 28(j)), you must file the certificate required by Rule 32(g).

 

•	For the limits in Rules 5, 21, 27, and 40:

 

- You must use the word limit if you produce your document on a computer; and

 

- You must use the page limit if you handwrite your document or type it on a typewriter.

 

•	For the limits in Rules 28.1, 29(a)(5), and 32:

 

- You may use the word limit or page limit, regardless of how you produce the document; or

 

- You may use the line limit if you type or print your document with a monospaced typeface. A typeface is monospaced when each character occupies the same amount of horizontal space.

 

	Rule	Document Type	Word Limit	Page Limit	Line Limit
Permission to appeal	5(c)	• Petition for permission to appeal • Answer in opposition • Cross-petition	5,200	20	Not applicable
Extraordinary writs	21(d)	• Petition for writ of mandamus or prohibition or other extraordinary writ • Answer	7,800	30	Not applicable
Motions	27(d)(2)	• Motion • Response to a motion	5,200	20	Not applicable
	27(d)(2)	• Reply to a response to a motion	2,600	10	Not applicable
Parties’ briefs (where no cross-appeal)	32(a)(7)   32(a)(7)	• Principal Brief   • Reply Brief	13,000   6,500	30   15	1,300   650
Parties’ briefs (where cross-appeal)	28.1(e)	• Appellant’s principal brief • Appellant’s response and reply brief	13,000	30	1,300
	28.1(e)	• Appellee’s principal and response brief	15,300	35	1,500
	28.1(e)	• Appellee's reply brief	6,500	15	650
Party's supplemental letter	28(j)	• Letter citing supplemental authorities	350	Not applicable	Not applicable
Amicus briefs	29(a)(5)	• Amicus brief during initial consideration of case on the merits	One-half the length set by the Appellate Rules for a party's principal brief	One-half the length set by the Appellate Rules for a party's principal brief	One-half the length set by the Appellate Rules for a party's principal brief
	29(b)(4)	• Amicus brief during consideration of whether to grant rehearing	2,600	Not applicable	Not applicable
Rehearing and en banc filings	40(d)(3)	• Petition for initial hearing en banc • Petition for panel rehearing; petition for rehearing en banc • Response if requested by the court	3,900	15	Not applicable