Change is unavoidable, especially in the law. The rules for appealing cases in federal court have been updated, which can be intimidating for lawyers. Some of the changes are small, like new deadlines for filing certain documents. Others, like reducing word limits for legal documents, are more significant. It’s important to pay attention to these changes because they can affect your client’s case. Federal courts, like the 11th Circuit, are strict about following the rules, and failing to do so can lead to a case being dismissed. This article explains some of the recent changes to help you navigate the process of appealing a federal case without running into any problems. Change is hard, but with the right information, it doesn’t have to be scary. Judges are telling lawyers to make their appellate briefs shorter. The rules for federal appeals have been changed to limit the number of words you can use. Basically, you have to make your point in fewer words than before. It’s a challenge, but it’s what judges want. The Federal Rules of Appellate Procedure have changed the word limits for briefs and other legal documents. Briefs now have shorter word limits, and there are also limits for petitions, writs, and motions. The courts can sometimes allow more words, but it’s not guaranteed. The rules also no longer give lawyers extra time for electronic filings. This means lawyers have to write shorter documents in less time. The extra three days that were added for lawyers to respond to legal documents have been removed because technology has advanced so much that lawyers can receive and respond to documents quickly. This also makes it easier to calculate deadlines for filing documents. The result is that lawyers now have less time to complete their work, so they need to be more organized and work harder to get things done on time. The 11th Circuit has made some changes to its rules in 2016. One change is that appellees now have 28 days after a case is docketed to file a certificate of interested persons and corporate disclosure statement. Another change is that if a party no longer needs a ruling on a motion, they need to file a motion to withdraw it. There are also new rules for submitting amicus briefs, and now all documents filed must include a certificate of compliance with word limits. In 2016, the federal rules for filing appeals changed, causing some confusion for lawyers. However, this article aims to help lawyers understand and adapt to the new rules. It provides a helpful appendix with length limits for different types of filings, making it easier for lawyers to check word, page, and line limits. The bottom line is that change is inevitable, but with this information, lawyers can embrace the change and position their clients’ appeals for success. The rules for how long legal documents can be in federal appeals courts have been changed. The courts now have the power to make the limits longer if they want to. Judges want briefs to be shorter, and there are new rules to try to make that happen. Opposing sides have different deadlines for when they have to turn in their written arguments. Joseph T. Eagleton is a lawyer who knows a lot about these rules. The author wants to thank two former leaders of the Appellate Practice Section for helping with the information in this article. Any mistakes are the author’s own. This article is from the Appellate Practice Section. It aims to teach members about duty, serving the public, improving the justice system, and advancing the study of law.
Source: https://www.floridabar.org/the-florida-bar-journal/what-you-dont-know-can-hurt-you-and-your-clients-appeal-understanding-recent-amendments-to-the-federal-rules-of-appellate-procedure/
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