Rule RAP 15 - Word-Count Certificate(A)Purpose. To achieve more readable briefs and other documents (by, for example, using easily readable fonts and reasonable font sizes in footnotes, keeping footnotes together on the same page), the number of words in a document filed in the Kentucky appellate courts is intended to be the primary method of determining whether a document fits within any relevant length limits. Thus, computer-generated documents that are likely to approach the word limits in these rules require a word-count certificate.(B)Page limits.(1)Handwritten or typewritten documents. Because some parties do not have access to computers, these rules also contain page limits for handwritten and typewritten documents. These page limits apply only to typewritten and handwritten documents and do not apply to computer-generated documents.(2)Computer-generated documents. These rules also contain page limits for computer-generated documents. These page limits are lower than the page limits for handwritten or typewritten documents. If a computer-generated document fits within the page limits for computergenerated documents, then a word-count certificate is not necessary.(C)Word limits. A computer-generated document that exceeds the page limits for a computer-generated document, but that is within the relevant word limit, must include a certificate by the attorney, or an unrepresented party, that the brief falls within the relevant word limit. The certificate must also state the number of words in the portion of the brief subject to the word limit. The person preparing the certificate may rely on the word count of the word-processing system used to prepare the document.(D)Exclusions from word and page limits. Covers, captions, signature blocks, certificates of service, word-count certificates, exhibits, and appendices are excluded from any page or word-count limits in these rules. In addition, other rules may exclude certain required portions of documents from the page or word limits.(E)Acceptable form. A word-count certificate is acceptable if is in the following form or contains the following information: This document complies with the word limit of RAP [insert RAP citation, e.g., 31(G)(1)] because, excluding the parts of the document exempted by RAP 15(E) [and additional RAP citation, if any, such as RAP 31(G)(1)], this document contains [state the number of words].
Adopted by order 2022-49, eff. 1/1/2023.