State Bar develops briefs checklist

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An ad hoc committee of the State Bar of Wisconsin’s Appellate Practice Section has developed a checklist to assist lawyers and litigants in writing and filing briefs with the Wisconsin Court of Appeals.

The list is one of three posted on the Clerk of Supreme Court and Court of Appeals portion of the Wisconsin Court System website.

The documents, located under the Appellate e-filing section of the website, include:

• Appellate Practice Section ad hoc committee introduction
• Appellate practice checklist outline
• Appellate brief filing checklist

During the last two years, the 14-member Appellate Section developed the checklist to improve the content of the brief and the appendix, filing and service of briefs, and appendices and additional considerations for reply and non-party briefs.

The checklist is purely advisory and should not be considered a definitive statement of the rules.

The Appellate Brief Filing Checklist Outline describes in detail the requirements of Wis. Stat. section 809.19 and includes specific information regarding:

• Covers, captions, table of contents, and brief binding
• Statement of issues for review, oral argument, and publication
• Case, argument, and conclusion
• Signature
• Form and length requirements and certification
• Appendix and certification
• Mailing certification or affidavit
• Number of paper copies required for filing and service
• Electronic brief requirements and appendix
• Citation of unpublished opinions.