(A) Time to file
(1) In every appeal involving termination of parental rights or adoption of a minor child, or both, the appellant may file a reply brief within fifteen days after the filing of the appellee’s brief.
(2) In every other appeal, the appellant may file a reply brief within twenty days after the filing of the appellee’s brief.
(3) If the case involves multiple appellees who file separate merit briefs, the appellant shall file only one reply brief, if any, responding to all of the appellees’ merit briefs. The time for filing the appellant’s reply brief, if any, shall be calculated from the date the last brief in support of the appellee is filed, including an amicus brief in support of the appellees.
(B) Page limit
(1) Except in death-penalty appeals of right and in postconviction death-penalty appeals, the reply brief shall not exceed twenty numbered pages, exclusive of the table of contents, the table of authorities cited, the certificate of service, and the appendix.
(2) In death-penalty appeals of right filed pursuant to Rule 5.01(A)(1), (2), (4), or (6) and in postconviction death-penalty appeals filed pursuant to Rule 7, the reply brief has no page limitation.
Effective Date: June 1, 1994
Amended: April 1, 1996; April 1, 2000; June 1, 2000; July 1, 2004; January 1, 2008; January 1, 2010; January 1, 2013; June 1, 2017; January 1, 2023; April 1, 2025
