U.S. Supreme Court
U.S. Supreme Court Filing Rules Check
Filing in the United States Supreme Court? DraftAria formats your document for this court and checks it against the requirements below before you file — page limits, formatting, citations and electronic filing.
Not yet verified. These requirements come from DraftAria's court database and have not yet been verified against the court's official rules, which change over time. Always confirm with the court's current local rules and standing orders before filing.
Filing requirements in our database
| Requirement | Details | Rule |
|---|---|---|
| Page LimitsFormat | Briefs on the merits limited to 13,000 wordsDeadline: Per scheduling order | Sup. Ct. R. 33.1(g) |
| Font RequirementsFormat | 12-point Century Schoolbook or similar serif font | Sup. Ct. R. 33.1(b) |
| MarginsFormat | 1-inch margins on all sides | Sup. Ct. R. 33.1(a) |
| Paper SizeFormat | 6⅛ x 9¼ inch booklet format | Sup. Ct. R. 33.1 |
| Number of CopiesFiling | 40 copies of any document | Sup. Ct. R. 29.2 |
Official resources
Common filings in this court
What the national rules require for each filing in a the U.S. Supreme Court. The court's local rules and judges' practices add to these. Compiled from the rules and not yet verified by a reviewing attorney.
U.S. Supreme Court · Petitions
Petition for a Writ of CertiorariSup. Ct. R. 10 · Sup. Ct. R. 13
Asks the Supreme Court to review a lower-court judgment.
- Questions presented (Rule 14.1(a))
- List of parties and related proceedings (Rule 14.1(b))
- Corporate disclosure statement where required (Rule 29.6)
- Tables of contents and authorities
- Citations of the opinions below
- Statement of the basis for jurisdiction
- Constitutional provisions, statutes and rules involved
- Concise statement of the case
- Reasons for granting the petition
- Appendix with the opinions, orders and judgments below (Rule 14.1(i))
- Certificate of compliance with the word limit (Rule 33.1(h))
- Proof of service (Rule 29)
Deadline: Within 90 days after entry of the judgment, or of the order denying a timely rehearing petition (Rule 13.1, 13.3).
Length: 9,000 words in booklet format (Rule 33.1(g)).
Rules: Sup. Ct. R. 10; Sup. Ct. R. 13; Sup. Ct. R. 14; Sup. Ct. R. 33
Brief in Opposition to CertiorariSup. Ct. R. 15 · Sup. Ct. R. 33
Responds to a certiorari petition.
- Any objection to the questions presented or misstatements in the petition (Rule 15.2)
- Tables
- Argument
- Certificate of compliance
- Proof of service
Deadline: Within 30 days after the case is docketed or the Court calls for a response (Rule 15.3).
Length: 9,000 words (Rule 33.1(g)).
Rules: Sup. Ct. R. 15; Sup. Ct. R. 33
U.S. Supreme Court · Merits
Merits Brief (Petitioner or Respondent)Sup. Ct. R. 24 · Sup. Ct. R. 25
Argues the merits after certiorari is granted.
- Contents listed in Rule 24.1: questions presented, parties, tables, opinions below, jurisdiction, provisions involved, statement of the case, summary of argument, argument and conclusion
- Certificate of compliance
- Proof of service
Deadline: Petitioner: within 45 days of the order granting certiorari; respondent: within 30 days after the petitioner’s brief is filed (Rule 25.1–25.2).
Length: 13,000 words; reply brief 6,000 words (Rule 33.1(g)).
Rules: Sup. Ct. R. 24; Sup. Ct. R. 25; Sup. Ct. R. 33
Amicus Curiae Brief (Supreme Court)Sup. Ct. R. 37 · Sup. Ct. R. 33.1(g)
Brief by a non-party at the certiorari or merits stage.
- Statement of interest and authorship/funding disclosure (Rule 37.6)
- Certificate of compliance
- Proof of service
Deadline: Deadlines set by Rule 37.2–37.3 for each stage.
Length: Set by Rule 33.1(g) for each stage.
Rules: Sup. Ct. R. 37; Sup. Ct. R. 33.1(g)
U.S. Supreme Court · Applications
Application to Extend Time to File a PetitionSup. Ct. R. 13.5 · Sup. Ct. R. 22
Asks a Justice to extend the time to file a certiorari petition.
- Application addressed to the Circuit Justice
- Copy of the opinion and judgment below
- Specific reasons why an extension is justified
- Proof of service
Deadline: Must be filed at least 10 days before the petition is due, except in extraordinary circumstances; extension not exceeding 60 days (Rule 13.5).
Rules: Sup. Ct. R. 13.5; Sup. Ct. R. 22; Sup. Ct. R. 30.2
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