Minn. R. Civ. App. P. 131.03
As amended through February 1, 2024
Subdivision 1. Required Number, Due Date, and Manner of Filing Paper Copies of Briefs For paper copies, the required number, time, and manner of filing may be established either by standing order of the applicable appellate court or by other court order.
Subd. 2. Service. Two paper copies of each brief and addendum shall be served on the attorney for each party to the appeal separately represented and on each party appearing pro se. Proof of service shall be made as defined by Rule 125.04.
Minn. R. Civ. App. P. 131.03
Fourteen copies of all briefs, appendices, and supplemental records must now be filed in the Supreme Court and nine copies in the Court of Appeals. Two unbound copies must be supplied to either court.
Advisory Committee Comment - 1998 Amendments
This rule has been revised to make more clear the event from which the due date of the opening brief is calculated, the due date for responsive briefs, and the procedure for obtaining extensions of time to file briefs. The amended rule also reduces the number of copies of briefs that must be filed in the Court of Appeals. In instances where it is not necessary to await the preparation of a transcript, the time for the opening brief begins to run when the appellate proceedings are formally commenced. When review is not as a matter of right, but depends on some grant of leave from the appellate court, the time for the opening brief does not begin to run until that permission is granted.
If either party has ordered a transcript, the time for the opening brief runs from the date the transcript is delivered. Consistent withRule 125.03, three days are added to the briefing period if the transcript was delivered by United States Mail. The revised rule makes that calculation clear.
Generally, service of appellant's brief begins the 30-day period for the filing of respondent's brief. If respondent has ordered a transcript pursuant to Rule 110.02, subd. 1, respondent's briefing period does not begin until delivery of the transcript, if the transcript is delivered after appellant's brief is served.
Specific grounds for any extension of a brief due date must be shown in the affidavit accompanying the motion. Extensions of time to file briefs are not favored.
The rule has also been changed to reduce the number of briefs to be filed in the Court of Appeals from nine to seven. While the rule previously required two unbound copies for the Court of Appeals, it now only requires one such copy. The number of bound and unbound copies required by the Supreme Court is unchanged.
Advisory Committee Comment-2014 Amendments
Rule 131 is amended in several places to change references to the appendix to refer to the addendum. The use of an appendix as it formerly existed is no longer either required or permitted in any appellate proceedings.
As part of the implementation of electronic filing in the appellate courts, the courts may adjust the number of paper copies of briefs to be provided to the courts. This may be accomplished by standing order or by order in individual appeals. That order may also modify the required timing for filing paper briefs or the place or manner of filing.
Subdivision 2 of Rule 131.03 is amended to provide notice that the courts may further reduce the number of required paper copies of briefs and addenda. The rule allows the appellate courts to change the number of copies, or other requirements for filed copies, including the deadline for filing paper copies or place of filing. The courts could make these changes by order applicable to all appeals in that court, or by order with notice to the parties in a particular appeal or category of appeals.