Federal Appeal Filing Checklist

District Court: United States District Court for the [________________________________]

Circuit Court: United States Court of Appeals for the [________________________________] Circuit

District Court Case Number: [________________________________]

Appellate Case Number: [________________________________] (assigned after filing)

Appellant: [________________________________]

Appellee: [________________________________]

Filing Attorney: [________________________________]

Date Prepared: [__/__/____]

I. Appealability Determination

Final Judgment Rule (28 U.S.C. § 1291)

☐ Judgment or order is final (ends litigation on merits)
☐ Judgment entered on docket: [__/__/____]
☐ Separate document rule satisfied (FRCP 58)

Interlocutory Appeal (28 U.S.C. § 1292)

☐ Order involves injunctive relief (§ 1292(a)(1))
☐ Certified for immediate appeal by district court (§ 1292(b))
☐ Collateral order doctrine applies
☐ Other basis: [________________________________]

Exceptions to Final Judgment Rule

☐ Multiple claims/parties - FRCP 54(b) certification obtained
☐ Class certification decision (FRCP 23(f))
☐ Mandamus (28 U.S.C. § 1651)

II. Deadline Calculation (FRAP 4)

Standard Deadline - Civil Cases

☐ 30 days from entry of judgment or order (FRAP 4(a)(1)(A))
☐ 60 days if United States or federal officer is a party (FRAP 4(a)(1)(B))

Calculating the Deadline

☐ Date judgment/order entered: [__/__/____]
☐ Start counting next day (FRAP 26(a)(1)(A))
☐ Include weekends and holidays
☐ If last day is weekend/holiday, deadline moves to next business day
☐ DEADLINE TO FILE NOTICE OF APPEAL: [__/__/____]

Tolling Motions (FRAP 4(a)(4))

If any of these motions filed, appeal time runs from order disposing of last motion:
☐ Motion for judgment under FRCP 50(b)
☐ Motion to amend findings under FRCP 52(b)
☐ Motion for attorney's fees under FRCP 54 (if time extended)
☐ Motion to alter or amend judgment under FRCP 59
☐ Motion for new trial under FRCP 59
☐ Motion for relief under FRCP 60 (if filed within 28 days)

☐ Tolling motion filed: [__/__/____]
☐ Order on tolling motion: [__/__/____]
☐ RECALCULATED DEADLINE: [__/__/____]

Extension of Time (FRAP 4(a)(5))

☐ Extension available: 30 additional days (upon motion)
☐ Must show excusable neglect or good cause
☐ Motion must be filed within 30 days after original deadline expires

Reopening Time to Appeal (FRAP 4(a)(6))

☐ Available if party did not receive notice of entry
☐ Must be within 180 days after entry OR 14 days after notice received

III. Notice of Appeal (FRAP 3)

Filing Location

☐ Filed with clerk of district court (not court of appeals)
☐ Filed electronically via CM/ECF
☐ Or filed in paper if not e-filing

Required Content (FRAP 3(c))

☐ Names of all appellants
☐ Designation of judgment/order appealed from
☐ Name of court to which appeal is taken
☐ Signature of appellant or counsel

Form

☐ Use Official Form 1 (Appendix of Forms - FRAP)
☐ Or equivalent document containing required information

Fee Payment

☐ District court docket fee: $5.00 (filed with notice)
☐ Circuit court filing fee: $505.00 (as of 2024)
☐ Or motion to proceed in forma pauperis (IFP) filed

Filing the Notice

☐ Notice of Appeal filed: [__/__/____]
☐ Filing fee paid or IFP motion filed
☐ Copy served on all parties
☐ Confirmation received

IV. In Forma Pauperis (IFP) Application

☐ IFP status in district court continues on appeal (FRAP 24(a)(3))
☐ Or new IFP motion filed with notice of appeal
☐ Financial affidavit attached
☐ Statement of issues on appeal (if required)

V. Transcript and Record (FRAP 10-11)

Ordering Transcripts (FRAP 10(b))

☐ Within 14 days of filing notice of appeal:
☐ Order transcripts needed for appeal
☐ File transcript purchase order with court reporter
☐ Make satisfactory arrangements for payment
☐ File certificate showing order placed OR statement no transcript needed

Designating the Record

☐ Appellant's Designation:
☐ Within 14 days after filing notice
☐ Serve on appellee designation of record items
☐ Serve statement of issues to be presented

☐ Appellee's Counter-Designation:
☐ Within 14 days of appellant's designation
☐ May designate additional items

Record on Appeal Components

☐ Original papers and exhibits filed in district court
☐ Transcript(s) of proceedings
☐ Certified copy of docket entries

Transmission of Record (FRAP 11)

☐ Clerk transmits record when complete
☐ Or parties may stipulate to abbreviated record
☐ Electronic record transmission (if available)

VI. Docketing Statement

Circuit Court Requirements

☐ Docketing statement required: ☐ Yes ☐ No
☐ Deadline: Typically 14 days after docketing (check circuit rules)
☐ Form obtained from circuit court website

Common Docketing Statement Contents

☐ Jurisdictional basis
☐ Finality of order/judgment
☐ Prior or related appeals
☐ Nature of suit
☐ Issues on appeal (preliminary)
☐ Parties' information

VII. Corporate Disclosure Statement (FRAP 26.1)

☐ Deadline: Filed with appearance or principal brief
☐ Required for corporate parties
☐ Parent corporations disclosed
☐ Publicly held corporations with 10%+ ownership interest disclosed
☐ Supplemental statement if information changes

VIII. Appellate Briefing Schedule

Appellant's Opening Brief

☐ Due: 40 days after record filed (FRAP 31(a)(1))
☐ Or per court scheduling order
☐ Calculated deadline: [__/__/____]

Appellee's Brief

☐ Due: 30 days after appellant's brief served (FRAP 31(a)(1))
☐ Calculated deadline: [__/__/____]

Appellant's Reply Brief

☐ Due: 21 days after appellee's brief served (FRAP 31(a)(1))
☐ Optional but usually filed
☐ Calculated deadline: [__/__/____]

Extensions

☐ Extensions require motion and good cause
☐ Circuit rules on extensions reviewed

IX. Brief Requirements (FRAP 28, 32)

Content Requirements (FRAP 28(a))

☐ Corporate disclosure statement
☐ Table of contents
☐ Table of authorities
☐ Jurisdictional statement
☐ Statement of issues
☐ Statement of the case
☐ Summary of argument
☐ Argument
☐ Conclusion with specific relief requested
☐ Certificate of compliance

Format Requirements (FRAP 32)

☐ Page size: 8.5 x 11 inches
☐ Margins: at least 1 inch
☐ Font: 14-point proportional OR 12-point monospaced
☐ Line spacing: double-spaced (text), single-spaced (quotations, footnotes)
☐ Page limits OR word/line limits:
☐ Principal briefs: 13,000 words or 30 pages
☐ Reply briefs: 6,500 words or 15 pages

Certificate of Compliance (FRAP 32(g))

☐ States brief complies with type-volume limitation
☐ States word/line count
☐ Signed by attorney

Appendix Requirements

☐ Joint appendix OR separate appendices
☐ Relevant docket entries
☐ Relevant portions of pleadings, judgment, orders
☐ Other parts of record referenced in briefs

X. Circuit-Specific Requirements

Circuit: [________________________________]

☐ Local rules reviewed
☐ Circuit-specific forms obtained
☐ Mediation/settlement conference program:
☐ Mandatory: ☐ Yes ☐ No
☐ Deadline to participate: [__/__/____]
☐ ECF filing requirements verified
☐ Paper copies required: [____] copies
☐ Cover color requirements noted

XI. Post-Filing Deadlines Summary

XII. Oral Argument

Requesting Oral Argument

☐ Request typically made in brief
☐ Statement of reasons argument would be helpful

After Argument Scheduled

☐ Argument date: [__/__/____]
☐ Time: [________________________________]
☐ Location: [________________________________]
☐ Time allocated: [____] minutes per side

XIII. Motion Practice in Circuit Court

Motion Requirements (FRAP 27)

☐ Separate motion and brief
☐ Affidavit if based on facts outside record
☐ Response time: 10 days (8 days if filed electronically)
☐ Reply time: 7 days

Common Motions

☐ Motion for extension of time
☐ Motion to stay pending appeal
☐ Motion to expedite
☐ Motion to supplement record

XIV. Quality Control Checklist

Before Filing Notice of Appeal

☐ Deadline verified (jurisdictional!)
☐ Order/judgment is final or interlocutory exception applies
☐ All appellants named
☐ Correct court designated
☐ Fee paid or IFP filed

Record and Briefing

☐ Transcripts ordered
☐ All arguments preserved in district court
☐ Brief complies with all formatting requirements
☐ Appendix complete

XV. Document Tracking Log

Sources and References

• Federal Rules of Appellate Procedure: https://www.uscourts.gov/rules-policies/current-rules-practice-procedure/federal-rules-appellate-procedure
• Cornell Law FRAP: https://www.law.cornell.edu/rules/frap
• Circuit Court Websites for Local Rules

Prepared by: [________________________________]

Date: [__/__/____]

Supervising Attorney (if applicable): [________________________________]