Utah Courts
URAP Rule 24A (Rules of Appellate Procedure)
URAP Rule 24A (Rules of Appellate Procedure)
Rule 24A. Briefs in cross-appeals.
(a) Party designation. The party first filing a notice of appeal is the appellant. The party filing a second or subsequent notice of appeal is the cross-appellant. The parties may change the designation of parties by stipulation filed with the court, or the court may order a different designation of parties. Each party is entitled to file two briefs.
(b) Appellant’s principal brief. The appellant must file a principal brief that presents the issues raised in the appeal.
(c) Cross-appellant’s principal brief. The cross-appellant must then file one brief, that first responds to the appellant's issues raised in the appeal and then, in the same brief, presents the issues raised in the cross-appeal. The brief may include a single introduction, statement of the issue, statement of the case, and conclusion.
(d) Appellant’s reply brief. The appellant may then file one brief that first replies to the cross-appellant’s response to the issues raised in the appeal and then responds to the issues raised in the cross-appeal.
(e) Cross-appellant’s reply brief. The cross-appellant may file a reply brief that replies to the appellant’s response to the issues raised in cross-appeal.
(f) No further briefs. No further briefs may be filed except with leave of the appellate court.
(g) Length of briefs.
(g)(1) Unless a brief complies with the following page limits, it must comply with the following word limits:
Type of brief
Page limit
Word limit
Appellant’s principal brief
30
14,000
Cross-appellant’s principal brief
45
21,000
Appellant’s reply brief
30
14,000
Cross-appellant’s reply brief
15
7,000
(g)(2) Headings, footnotes, and quotations count toward the page or word limit, but the table of contents, table of authorities, and addendum do not.
(h) Applicability of Rule 24. Except as provided in this rule, Rule 24 applies to briefs in a cross-appeal.