Skip to Main Content

facebook logo twitter logo email envelope icon Federal Depository Library Program logo open book icon

Search the Law Library Catalog
Advanced Search

Brief Writing in Oregon

A guide to stylistic and procedural resources for persons writing briefs for the Oregon Appellate courts.

Oregon Style Manual

All briefs must follow a standard structure called a style. This means that your brief must follow certain rules for formatting, grammar, punctuation, and citations. These rules are set out in a document called a style guide. The "Oregon Appellate Courts Style Manual" is the style guide for briefs submitted to the Oregon Appellate courts.

The Oregon Judicial Department's Publications website has PDF copies of the Oregon Appellate Courts Style Manual available for download:

Oregon Rules of Appellate Procedure

The Oregon Rules of Appellate Procedure (ORAP) are the rules that apply to proceedings in the Oregon Court of Appeals and the Oregon Supreme Court.

It is important that you read the entire ORAP in preparation for your case. Browsing the table of contents is a good way to familiarize yourself with the structure of the rules. Rule 5 covers the preparation and filing of briefs. This rule is the source of many of the requirements detailed in the Style Manual linked above.

Sample Briefs

Listed below are some places you can view briefs submitted to Oregon appellate courts.

It is important to remember that there is no guarantee that these briefs are correctly written. You should evaluate any example you use in the light of the rules, reference works, and other briefs.

  • Oregon Online Appellate Court Digital Collection - Briefs
    • Contains unofficial, redacted, copies of Oregon Supreme Court (SC) and Court of Appeals (COA) Briefs. This collection does not include confidential and restricted case types. Briefs coverage: March 2005 - March 2020.
    • A full collection of briefs is available in print at the State of Oregon Law Library

Books on Style

Banner Image
SOLLOJD
About Us | hours 8 a.m. - 4:45 p.m. M-F | map | 1163 State Street, Salem, OR 97301 | email | 503-986-5640