Federal appellate court practice can be a daunting experience, especially if you practice in multiple circuits. While the circuits share many common rules and practices, many of the circuits also have unique features that are important to be aware of. Federal Rule of Appellate Procedure 28(a)(4) states that one of the things that must be [...]
“For want of a comma, we have this case.” This is the opening sentence to a recent opinion from the United States Court of Appeals for the First Circuit. In O'Connor v. Oakhurst Dairy, No. 16-1901 (1st Cir. 2017), the First Circuit ruled on whether a missing Oxford comma in an overtime exemption statute entitles [...]
How are Cockle Legal Briefs and the United States Supreme Court linked? (Other than the fact that Cockle has been printing briefs for filing with the Supreme Court since 1923.) Through the College World Series, of course. Here is the linkage between the Court and Cockle by way of the baseball championship (which began this [...]
The first four parts of this series covered the Supreme Court appendix contents that are either required or that are too lengthy to leave in the brief. This final installment addresses a provision that allows pretty much anything, but that should be used with caution. Other Material Believed Essential. Rule 14.1(i)(vi) is the tempting catchall [...]
Rehearing Denial. The last required appendix document may or may not exist, but if it does, it goes at the end of the required category. This would be an order denying rehearing by the court that issued the final judgment you are directly challenging. Rule 14.1(i)(iii). Or the last document may be something else, depending [...]
So far this series has covered the critical opening document of an appendix for a U.S. Supreme Court petition for certiorari. Now we move down the list in Sup. Ct. R. 14.1(i) to other must-have documents. Other Relevant Decisions. After the decision you actually want the Supreme Court to review comes a required category of [...]
“Don’t look back, something might be gaining on you.” --Satchel Paige A couple of dangerous words legal brief writers use for looking back are “id.” and “supra.” Dangerous because what is usually gaining from one direction is a limit on words or pages (a word count under U.S. Supreme Court rules or a page limit [...]
How Is Cockle Legal Briefs Different? We strive to craft the highest quality Briefs. We succeed because we are the only Supreme Court brief printer to proofread everything—with teams of two professional readers—and our staff actively pursues an intimate knowledge of Court practices and conventions. Located in the heart of the nation, we are able [...]
Cockle Legal Briefs is the nation’s leading preparer of United States Supreme Court briefs. We specialize in preparing the booklet brief format described in Supreme Court Rule 33.1. The required booklet format is extremely specific and unusual. Very few copy shops—or even general commercial printers—have the expertise or equipment to prepare a Supreme Court booklet. [...]
Selecting a legal brief printer for your Supreme Court filing can be as important as the content of your brief itself. You have made it as far as appealing your case to the Supreme Court. Do not skimp on the important details that could keep your brief from being accepted by the Court. When you file [...]