Rule 16.03 - Appellee's Brief(A) Time to file (1) In every appeal involving termination of parental rights or adoption of a minor child, or both, within twenty days after the filing of the appellant's brief the appellee shall file a merit brief. (2) In every other appeal, the appellee shall file a merit brief within thirty days after the filing of the appellant's brief.(3) If the case involves multiple appellants who file separate merit briefs, the appellee shall file only one merit brief responding to all of the appellants' merit briefs. The time for filing the appellee's brief shall be calculated from the date the last brief in support of the appellant is filed, including an amicus brief in support of the appellants. (B) Contents (1) The appellee's brief shall comply with the provisions in S.Ct.Prac.R. 16.02(B), answer the appellant's contentions, and make any other appropriate contentions as reasons for affi rmance of the order or judgment from which the appeal is taken.(2) A statement of facts may be omitted from the appellee's brief if the appellee agrees with the statement of facts given in the appellant's merit brief. (3) The appendix need not duplicate any materials provided in the appendix of the appellant's brief.(C) Page limit (1) Except in death-penalty appeals of right and in postconviction death-penalty appeals, the appellee's brief shall not exceed fifty numbered pages, exclusive of the table of contents, the table of authorities cited, the certificate of service, and the appendix. (2) In death-penalty appeals of right filed pursuant to S.Ct.Prac.R. 5.01(A)(1), (2), (4), or (6) and in postconviction death-penalty appeals filed pursuant to S.Ct.Prac.R. 7, the appellee's brief has no page limitation. Ohio. R. Prac. S. Ct. 16.03
Amended:4/1/1996; 4/1/2000; 6/1/2000;7/1/2004; 1/1/2008; 1/1/2010; 1/1/2013; effective 6/1/2017; amended October 4, 2022, effective 1/1/2023.