Fed. R. App. P. 31

(a) Time to Serve and File a Brief.

(1) The appellant must serve and file a brief within 40 days

after the record is filed. The appellee must serve and file a

brief within 30 days after the appellant’s brief is served. The

appellant may serve and file a reply brief within 21 days after

service of the appellee’s brief but a reply brief must be filed at

least 7 days before argument, unless the court, for good cause,

allows a later filing.

(2) A court of appeals that routinely considers cases on the

merits promptly after the briefs are filed may shorten the

time to serve and file briefs, either by local rule or by order

in a particular case.

(b) Number of Copies. Twenty-five copies of each brief must be

filed with the clerk and 2 copies must be served on each unrepresented party and on counsel for each separately represented

party. An unrepresented party proceeding in forma pauperis must

file 4 legible copies with the clerk, and one copy must be served

on each unrepresented party and on counsel for each separately

represented party. The court may by local rule or by order in a

particular case require the filing or service of a different number.

(c) Consequence of Failure to File. If an appellant fails to file a

brief within the time provided by this rule, or within an extended

time, an appellee may move to dismiss the appeal. An appellee

who fails to file a brief will not be heard at oral argument unless

the court grants permission.

(As amended Mar. 30, 1970, eff. July 1, 1970; Mar. 10, 1986, eff. July

1, 1986; Apr. 29, 1994, eff. Dec. 1, 1994; Apr. 24, 1998, eff. Dec. 1, 1998;

Apr. 29, 2002, eff. Dec. 1, 2002; Mar. 26, 2009, eff. Dec. 1, 2009; Apr.

26, 2018, eff. Dec. 1, 2018.)