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June 2010 APPELLATE PROCEDURE Ch 6, p.19
6.901(5) Multiple adverse parties. If the time for doing any act prescribed by these rules is
measured from the date of service of a paper by an adverse party, then in the case of multiple adverse
parties the time for doing such act shall be measured from the date of service of the last timely served
paper by an adverse party or the date of expiration of time for such service.
6.901(6) Amendments. An appellant may amend a required brief once within 15 days after serving
the brief, provided no brief has been served in response to it. The time for serving and filing of the
appellee’s brief shall be measured from the date of service of the amendment to the appellant’s brief.
An appellee’s brief may be amended once within 10 days after service, provided no brief has been
served in reply to it. The time for serving and filing the appellant’s reply brief shall be measured from
the date of service of the amendment to the appellee’s brief. A reply brief may be amended once
within seven days after it is served. Any other amendments to the briefs may be made only with leave
of the appropriate appellate court. An amendment may be conditionally filed with a motion for leave.
6.901(7) Deadlines shortened by order. The supreme court may shorten the periods for serving
and filing proof and final briefs.
6.901(8) Number of copies to be filed and served. Two copies of proof briefs and 18 copies of
each brief in final form or amendment thereto shall be filed with the clerk of the supreme court, and
one copy of the proof brief and the briefs in final form shall be served on counsel for each party
separately represented.
[Court Order October 31, 2008, effective January 1, 2009; March 9, 2009]
Rule 6.902 Cases involving expedited times for filing briefs and appendix.
6.902(1) Expedited cases. The following cases shall be expedited on appeal:
a. Child custody.
b. Adoption.
c. Termination-of-parental-rights cases under Iowa Code chapter 600A.
d. Child-in-need-of-assistance or termination-of-parental-rights cases under Iowa Code chapter
232 (when full briefing has been granted).
e. Criminal proceedings in which an appeal is taken from a judgment and sentence entered upon
a guilty plea or from the sentence only.
f. Juvenile proceedings affecting child placement.
g. Lawyer disciplinary matters.
h. Involuntary mental health commitments under Iowa Code chapter 229.
i. Involuntary substance abuse commitments under Iowa Code chapter 125.
j. Certified questions under Iowa Code chapter 684A.
6.902(2) Filing deadlines. The time for serving and filing proof briefs, other than reply
briefs, and the time for designating the contents of the appendix shall be reduced by one-half of
the time provided in rules 6.901(1) and 6.905(1)(b). The appendix and reply briefs, except an
appellee/cross-appellant’s reply brief, shall be served and filed not more than 15 days after service
or expiration of the time for service of the appellee’s proof brief, and printed or duplicated copies of
all the briefs in final form shall be served and filed within seven days after service of the appendix.
An appellee/cross-appellant’s reply brief may be served and filed not more than seven days after
service of the appellant’s/cross-appellee’s reply brief. The litigants will not be given extensions of
time in which to comply with the expedited deadlines except upon a showing of the most unusual
and compelling circumstances.
6.902(3) Priority. Each case subject to this rule shall be given the highest priority at all stages of
the appellate process. These appeals shall be accorded submission precedence over other civil cases.
6.902(4) Transcripts. Court reporters shall give priority to transcription of proceedings in these
cases over other civil transcripts.
[Court Order October 31, 2008, effective January 1, 2009]
Rule 6.903 Briefs.
6.903(1) Form of briefs.
a. Reproduction. A brief may be reproduced by any process that yields a clear black image on
white paper. The paper must be opaque and unglazed. Briefs shall be reproduced on both sides of the
sheet.
b. Form of front covers. The front covers of the briefs shall contain:
(1) The name of the court and the appellate number of the case.
(2) The caption on appeal. See rule 6.109(2).