Rule 4-1 - Style of Briefs(a)Format. Briefs filed by represented parties shall be typewritten using word-processing software, shall be contained in a single electronic file, and shall be in word-searchable portable document format (PDF). PDF files shall be converted from the word-processing software from which they were created, rather than by scanning paper documents. Electronic briefs shall not contain hyperlinks to external papers or websites.(b)Spacing. Briefs shall be double-spaced, except for quoted material, which may be single-spaced and indented. Footnote lines, except quotations, shall be double-spaced. Use of footnotes is not encouraged and should be used sparingly.(c)Margins.. The margins at the top bottom, and sides of each page shall be not less than one inch except that the top margin of the brief cover shall be not less than two inches to accommodate the file-mark.(d)Font. Typeface shall be proportionally spaced, shall not be less than 14 points, and must include serifs, but sans-serif type may be used in headings and captions.(e)Pagination and bookmarks. Briefs shall be paginated consecutively, and the cover page shall be page one. Briefs shall also be bookmarked for ease of navigation. There shall be a bookmark for each section of the brief referenced in Rule 4-2(a).(f)Compliance with Administrative Order No. 19 required. Briefs shall comply with the requirements of Administrative Order Number 19 concerning confidential information and the following requirements.(1) Redaction. Confidential information shall be redacted from appellate briefs in the manner described in Arkansas Rule of Civil Procedure 5(c).(2)Redaction Not Required for Sealed Cases. If the entire record on appeal is sealed pursuant to statute, court rule, court order, or court practice, all briefs filed in the case shall be filed under seal, and no redaction is required.(3)Unredacted briefs. If court review of any confidential information redacted from a brief is necessary to decide the appeal, the party filing the brief must file an unredacted version of the brief under seal. If court review of redacted confidential information is not necessary to decide the appeal, the party filing the brief is not required to file an unredacted brief.Ark. R. Sup. Ct. & Ct. App. 4-1
Amended March 13, 2014, effective 7/1/2014; amended and effective 12/17/2020.Addition to Reporter's Notes, 2014 Amendment: Both Rule 4-1 and Rule 4-4 required the filing on appeal of nine copies of redacted briefs and nine copies of unredacted briefs, for a total of eighteen copies. However, only one copy of the redacted brief need be filed---for public viewing, while 17 copies of unredacted briefs should be filed for use by the courts and court personnel. Rules 4-1 and 4-4 are amended accordingly.