Rule 20. OTHER WORD AND PAGE LIMITATIONS

(1) Principal Briefs. In both civil and criminal cases (except for death penalty cases — see Rule 20(4)), principal briefs (appellants' and appellees' initial briefs) are limited to 10,000 words. Mechanically typed and handwritten principal briefs are limited to 30 pages.

(2) Reply Briefs. In both civil and criminal cases (except for death penalty cases), reply briefs are limited to 7,000 words. Mechanically typed and handwritten reply briefs are limited to 20 pages.

(3) Petitions for Certiorari, Applications for Appeal, Pre- and Post-Conviction Habeas Corpus Appeals, Motions, and Responses. Petitions for certiorari, applications for appeal, pre- conviction and post-conviction habeas corpus appeals, motions, and responses and replies to these categories of filings are limited to 7,000 words. Such mechanically typed and handwritten documents filed in paper form are limited to 20 pages. See Rule 20(4), below, for page limitation in cases in which the State is seeking a death sentence or in which a previously imposed death sentence is at issue.

(4) Death Penalty Cases. Principal briefs and applications for appeal in cases in which the State is seeking a death sentence or in which a previously-imposed death sentence is at issue are limited to 20,000 words. If mechanically typed or handwritten, such documents are limited to 80 pages. Reply briefs in such cases are limited to 10,000 words. If mechanically typed or handwritten, such documents are limited to 40 pages.

(5) Amicus Curiae Briefs. Amicus curiae briefs are limited to 7,000 words.

(6) Exclusions from Word and Page Limitations. Cover page, table of contents, table of citations, appendices, certificate of service, signature block, and the statement of compliance with word-count limits shall not be counted toward the applicable word or page limitations.

(7) Certification of Word-Count. Each submission must contain the following certification immediately above the signature block of the 24 submitting attorney or pro se party: "This submission does not exceed the word-count limit imposed by Rule 20." The submitting attorney or pro se party signing the certificate may rely on the word-count of the computer program used to prepare the document.

(8) Extensions of Word or Page Limitations. Extensions of word or page limitations are granted infrequently, but may be granted in the Court's discretion and upon good cause shown. Any such motions shall comply with Rules 15 – 18 and shall not exceed 1,500 words or three pages if typed or handwritten. Any order granting an extension of the word or page count must be appended to the document when submitted.

(9) If a document does not comply with this rule, the Court may strike the document without leave to re-file.