VIRGIN ISLANDS RULES OF APPELLATE PROCEDURE Rule 15. Format for Papers, Motions, and Briefs; Filing and Service

• Jurisdiction: United States

Rule 15. Format for Papers, Motions, and Briefs; Filing and Service

(a) Format, Caption, and Footnotes. The use of both sides of a sheet of paper is encouraged. All printed matter must appear in at least fourteen point type on opaque, unglazed paper. All papers and motions shall be firmly bound at the left margin in a secure manner that does not obscure the text, and that permits the document to lie reasonably flat when open. All staples or fasteners shall be covered, and must have smooth edges. Use of backbones or spines without stapling or fastening is prohibited. All papers and motions shall have margins on both sides of each page that are no less than one inch wide, and margins on the top and bottom of each page that are no less than three-quarters of an inch wide. All papers and motions shall consist of pages not exceeding eight and one-half by eleven inches in size, with double spacing between each line of text. Copies may be used for filing and service if they are legible, except that an original signature shall be required by the movant on at least one copy of each document.

A motion or other paper addressed to the Supreme Court shall include in the caption the title of the case, the docket number, reference to the Superior Court docket number and the judicial division of St. Thomas/St. John or St. Croix, and a descriptive title indicating the purpose of the paper. The covers of all papers and motions shall contain the name(s), address(es), phone number(s), and facsimile number(s) of counsel for the party or parties on whose behalf the paper is submitted, or, if the party is proceeding pro se, the name, address, phone number(s), and facsimile number(s) of the party; and the names of counsel for opposing parties.

The cover of the brief of the appellant shall be blue; that of the appellee, red; that of an inter-venor or amicus curiae, green; and that of any reply brief, gray. The cover of the appendix shall be white. Where a transparent cover is utilized, the underlying cover sheet of the brief or appendix must nevertheless conform to the color requirements. The front covers of all briefs and appendices shall contain: (1) the number of the case; (2) the title of the case (see Rule 5(e)); (3) the judicial division and docket number of the Superior Court action below; (4) the title of the document (e.g., Brief for Appellant, Appendix); and (5) the names, addresses, phone number(s), and facsimile number(s) of counsel representing the party on whose behalf the document is filed. The briefs and appendices shall conform to Rules 22 through 25.

All appendices shall be separate from the briefs and no attachments shall be appended to the briefs. All documents included must be clearly legible. Copies of the reporter's transcript and other papers may be inserted in the appendix. All pages of the appendix shall be clearly and sequentially numbered.

Excessive footnotes in briefs and motions are discouraged. Footnotes shall be printed in no less than fourteen point type.

(b) Filing. Papers required or permitted to be filed in the Supreme Court shall be conventionally or electronically filed with the Clerk of the Supreme Court in accordance with Rule 15(f) and 40.3, but filing shall not be timely unless the...