Proposed Demise of the Proof Brief

The proof brief may soon be a distant memory. The Sixth Circuit has proposed changes to the local rules that would eliminate the proof brief and change the way the joint appendix is prepared. Comments on the proposed amendments may be submitted to the court until Friday, February 10. This is the notice posted on the Sixth Circuit's website:

Notice of Proposed Amendment to Sixth Circuit Rules 28, 30, and 31The United States Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit is proposing a change in the procedures for the filing of the briefs of parties, by eliminating the “proof” brief requirement addressed in Rules 28 and 31. In addition, the appendix procedure addressed in Rule 30 would be modified.To effect these changes the court has preliminarily approved, subject to later modification if warranted, several amendments to the local rules. By clicking on the following links to Sixth Circuit Rules 28, 30, and 31, you will be able to view the text of each rule in its current form (text in black) and the proposed amendment (text in red). Rule 28 , Rule 30, Rule 31The court will be accepting comments on the proposed rule amendments until Friday, February 10, 2006. Comments can be e-mailed to ca06-rules_comments@ca6.uscourts.gov or sent by mail to the Clerk's Office.