BRIEFS Local Rule 28(a). Consolidated Cases and Briefs. Related appeals or petitions for review will be consolidated in the Office of the Clerk, with notice to all parties, at the time a briefing schedule is established. One brief shall be permitted per side, including parties permitted to intervene, in all cases consolidated by Court order, unless leave to the contrary is granted upon good cause shown. In consolidated cases lead counsel shall be selected by the attorneys on each side and that person's identity made known in writing to the clerk within 14 days of the date of the order of consolidation. In the absence of an agreement by counsel, the clerk shall designate lead counsel. The individual so designated shall be responsible for the coordination, preparation and filing of the briefs and appendix. Local Rule 28(b). Addenda and Attachments to Briefs. A party may comply with the requirements of FRAP 28(f) and FRAP 32.1(b) by including material or items designated therein in an addendum at the end of the brief or by supplying them to the Court under separate cover. Should a party wish to supplement the brief with matters other than those designated in FRAP 28(f) or FRAP 32.1(b), the additional material must be presented to the Court under separate cover, accompanied by a motion for leave to file such supplemental material as an attachment to the brief. Local Rule 28(c). Responsibilities of Counsel Listed on a Brief. The Court will interpret the listing of an attorney on a brief as a representation that he or she is capable of arguing the appeal if lead counsel is unavailable. Local Rule 28(d). Joint Appeals and Consolidations. Where multiple parties are directed to file a consolidated brief, counsel on the same side of the case should confer and agree upon a means for assuring that the positions of all parties are addressed within the length limits allowed and that each counsel will have an opportunity to review and approve the consolidated brief before it is filed. Motions to file separate briefs are not favored by the Court and are granted only upon a particularized showing of good cause, such as, but not limited to, cases in which the interests of the parties are adverse. Generally unacceptable grounds for requests to file separate briefs include representations that the issues presented require a brief in excess of the length limitations established by FRAP 32(a)(7) (appropriately addressed by a motion to exceed length limit), that counsel cannot coordinate their efforts due to different geographical locations, or that the participation of separate counsel in the proceedings below entitles each party to separate briefs on appeal. If a motion to file separate briefs is granted, the length of such briefs may be limited by the Court. The parties shall continue to share the time allowed for oral argument. Local Rule 28(e). Citation of Additional Authorities. Counsel may, without leave of Court, present a letter drawing the Court's attention to supplemental authorities under Rule 28(j) and serve a copy on all counsel of record. The Court may grant leave for or direct the filing of additional memoranda, which may include additional argument before, during or after oral argument. Local Rule 28(f). Statement of Case. The statement of the case required by FRAP 28(a)(6) must include a narrative statement of all of the facts necessary for the Court to reach the conclusion which the brief desires with references to the specific pages in the appendix that support each of the facts stated. Local Rule 28(g). Citations to the Appendix. Citations in the brief to a joint or supplemental appendix must be in the format required by the Fourth Circuit Appendix Pagination & Brief Citation Guide.
