All briefs, motions, notices, and petitions filed with the appellate courts must be signed by every self-represented litigant or by: 1. an attorney licensed to practice in this State; or2 an attorney admitted pro hac vice to practice before the appellate courts.
Minn. R. Civ. App. P. 143.06
Adopted effective 7/1/2016.Advisory Committee Comment-2016 Amendments
Rule 143 is amended in two ways. Language relating to signing of appellate filings is removed from Rule 143.05 and replaced by a new Rule 143.06 that clarifies what documents must be signed and who may properly sign them. Including the signing requirements in a rule devoted to the caption of pleadings does not make it likely that the reader of the rules will locate the signing requirements. "Signed" is defined in Rule 101.02, subd. 7. This amendment clarifies that pro hac vice admission is not required for an attorney to appear on a brief as one of several attorneys, but every attorney-signed appellate pleading must be signed by at least one attorney who is a member of the Minnesota bar or who has been admitted pro hac vice. Oral argument may only be presented by an attorney who is a member of the Minnesota bar or who is admitted pro hac vice. Because self-represented litigants may sign only for themselves, all self-represented litigants must sign briefs, motions, notices, and petitions filed on their behalf. The requirement of signing for a represented party is met by the signing by any one of the counsel of record for a party. The rule underscores the fact that pro hac vice admission in the trial courts does not carry over into the appellate courts. Rule 143.05 provides for admission pro hac vice in the appellate courts and is not amended as to that process. Similarly, separate motions for admission pro hac vice are required in the Minnesota Court of Appeals and the Minnesota Supreme Court if a case proceeds to that court.