Statement of Purpose
The Appellate Rules Committee of the North Carolina Bar Association (the "Committee") has prepared this Style Manual to assist North Carolina lawyers appearing in the state appellate courts.
This Style Manual is not a substitute for the North Carolina Rules of Appellate Procedure (the "Rules"). The Committee has attempted to avoid interpretation of the Rules in this Style Manual. To the extent that this Style Manual appears to interpret a Rule, any interpretation has no precedential value. Practitioners are strongly advised to consult the Rules at each stage of an appeal, to acquaint themselves with the process, and to read appellate opinions that interpret the Rules. Note that the Rules are generally organized around the sequence and elements of an appeal (notice of appeal, record on appeal, briefs, etc.).
This Style Manual is an effort to synthesize the Rules and the Appendixes into a series of practical examples. The first record on appeal in the Style Manual, for example, contains each of the elements of a typical civil-case record, with a few commentaries by the Committee on important points. The Style Manual also contains a printed record on appeal for a typical juvenile case and a typical criminal case. However, practitioners should carefully note that juvenile appeals (involving termination of parental rights or the neglect, abuse, or dependency of juveniles) are subject to unique rules and deadlines. Further, practitioners with a criminal appeal or an administrative appeal will need to adjust the content, if not the style, of the remaining examples provided in this Style Manual, as the Rules vary slightly among civil, criminal, and administrative appeals.
The Committee appreciates the advice and comments of those who use this Style Manual. Please direct your suggestions to the Style Manual Editor, Caitlin Mitchell, at NCAppellateStyleManual@gmail.com.
This Style Manual was first published on 13 May 1999. The latest revision date is shown on the cover page. To ensure that you are referencing the current edition, click here to download the latest edition. This edition of the Style Manual has been updated to incorporate the relevant amendments to the Rules that were adopted as of April 2023-i.e., the Rules codified on 1 March 2023. Click here to verify if any additional amendments to the Rules have been adopted after 1 March 2023.