South Dakota Codified Laws 15-26A-60. Brief of appellant–Contents
The brief of the appellant shall contain under appropriate headings and in the order here indicated:
(1) A table of contents, with page references.
Terms Used In South Dakota Codified Laws 15-26A-60
- Appeal: A request made after a trial, asking another court (usually the court of appeals) to decide whether the trial was conducted properly. To make such a request is "to appeal" or "to take an appeal." One who appeals is called the appellant.
- Appellate: About appeals; an appellate court has the power to review the judgement of another lower court or tribunal.
- Deposition: An oral statement made before an officer authorized by law to administer oaths. Such statements are often taken to examine potential witnesses, to obtain discovery, or to be used later in trial.
- Evidence: Information presented in testimony or in documents that is used to persuade the fact finder (judge or jury) to decide the case for one side or the other.
- Pleadings: Written statements of the parties in a civil case of their positions. In the federal courts, the principal pleadings are the complaint and the answer.
- Seal: includes an impression of the seal upon the paper alone, as well as upon wax or a wafer affixed to the paper, and also the word "seal" written or printed on such paper. See South Dakota Codified Laws 2-14-2
- Transcript: A written, word-for-word record of what was said, either in a proceeding such as a trial or during some other conversation, as in a transcript of a hearing or oral deposition.
- Trial: A hearing that takes place when the defendant pleads "not guilty" and witnesses are required to come to court to give evidence.
- written: include typewriting and typewritten, printing and printed, except in the case of signatures, and where the words are used by way of contrast to typewriting and printing. See South Dakota Codified Laws 2-14-2
(2) A table of cases (alphabetically arranged), statutes and other authorities cited, with references to the pages of the brief where they are cited.
(3) A jurisdictional statement setting forth the date and form of the judgment or order sought to be reviewed, and the date when the notice of appeal was filed. This statement must make it appear, in cases of appeal, that the order sought to be reviewed is appealable.
(4) A concise statement of the legal issue or issues involved, omitting unnecessary detail. Each issue shall be stated as an appellate court would state the broad issue presented. Each issue shall be followed by a concise statement of how the trial court decided it, and a list of the most relevant cases not to exceed four, and the most relevant constitutional and statutory provisions.
(5) A statement of the case and the facts. A statement of the case shall first be presented identifying the trial court and the trial judge and indicating briefly the nature of the case and its disposition in the trial court. There shall follow a statement of facts relevant to the grounds urged for reversal, modification, or other relief. The facts must be stated fairly, with complete candor, and as concisely as possible. Where it is claimed that a verdict, finding of fact, or other determination is not sustained by the evidence, the statement must set forth the particulars in which the evidence is claimed to be insufficient. Each statement of a material fact shall be accompanied by a reference to the record where such fact appears.
(6) An argument. The argument shall contain the contentions of the party with respect to the issues presented, the reasons therefore, and the citations to the authorities relied on. Each issue shall be separately presented. Needless repetition shall be avoided.
(7) A short conclusion stating the precise relief sought.
(8) An appendix. The appendix shall include:
(a) the judgment, order or decision in question and any relevant written findings of fact and conclusions of law and memorandum decision;
(b) the statements of material facts and record citations required in § 15-6-56(c)(1) and (2);
(c) any relevant portions of the pleadings, instructions, and transcripts;
(d) items enumerated in § 15-26A-65; and
(e) any other parts of the record to which the parties wish to direct the particular attention of the Court.
Any portion of a transcript or deposition included in the appendix shall be accompanied by a copy of the cover sheet which indicates the date(s) of the proceedings and the participants. Summaries, abstracts or narratives shall not be used. The pages of the appendix shall be separately numbered and the appendix shall contain a table of contents with page references. Sections of the appendix shall be tabbed and salient information highlighted.
(9) One copy of the brief filed by the appellant in any appeal from a judgment or order pursuant to chapter 26-8A shall be signed by the appellant and his or her attorney. The appellant’s signature shall be omitted from the other copies of the brief that are served or filed. The copy of the brief signed by the appellant shall be filed under seal by the clerk of the Supreme Court and shall be subject to inspection only as permitted by the Court in keeping with the best interests of the child.
Source: Supreme Court Rule 79-1, Rule 12 (1); SDCL Supp, § 15-26A-42; SL 1993, ch 391 (Supreme Court Rule 93-8); SL 2003, ch 261 (Supreme Court Rule 03-02), eff. July 1, 2003; SL 2004, ch 315 (Supreme Court Rule 03-14), eff. Jan. 1, 2004; SL 2007, ch 309 (Supreme Court Rule 06-77), eff. Jan. 1, 2007.