(1) Appellant's Brief. No later than the date specified in the notice sent by the appellate clerk pursuant to Rule 8-412 (c), an appellant other than a cross-appellant shall file a brief conforming to the requirements of Rule 8-503.

(2) Appellee's Brief. Within 30 days after the filing of the appellant's brief, the appellee shall file a brief conforming to the requirements of Rule 8-503.

(3) Appellant's Reply Brief. The appellant may file a reply brief not later than the earlier of 20 days after the filing of the appellee's brief or ten days before the date of scheduled argument.

Cross reference: The meaning of subsection (a)(3) is in accordance with Heit v. Stansbury, 199 Md. App. 155 (2011).

(4) Cross-Appellant's Brief. An appellee who is also a cross-appellant shall include in the brief filed pursuant to subsection (2) of this section the issues and arguments on the cross-appeal as well as the response to the brief of the appellant, and shall not file a separate cross-appellant's brief.

(5) Cross-Appellee's Brief. Within 30 days after the filing of that brief, the appellant/cross-appellee shall file a brief in response to the issues and argument raised on the cross-appeal and shall include any reply to the appellee's response that the appellant wishes to file.

(6) Cross-Appellant's Reply Brief. The appellee/cross-appellant may file a reply to the cross-appellee's response within 20 days after the filing of the cross-appellee's brief, but in any event not later than ten days before the date of scheduled argument.

(7) Multiple Appellants or Appellees. In an appeal involving more than one appellant or appellee, including actions consolidated for purposes of the appeal, any number of appellants or appellees may join in a single brief.

(8) Review of Discharge for Unconstitutionality of Law by the Appellate Court. No briefs need be filed in a review by the Appellate Court under Code, Courts Article, § 3-706.

(9) Informal Briefing in the Appellate Court. For cases in which at least one party is self-represented, the Chief Judge of the Appellate Court, by administrative order, may authorize informal briefing in one or more categories of appeals in that Court. The administrative order shall: (A) list the categories of appeals to which it applies; (B) state the protocols to be followed, including protocols to remove a case from informal briefing by stipulation of the parties or order of the Court; and (C) promulgate forms to be used. The administrative order shall be posted on the Judiciary website, and paper copies of it shall be available to the public in the Office of the Clerk of the Appellate Court. A case designated for informal briefing is not subject to the requirements of Rules 8-501 through 8-504, except to the extent a Rule is incorporated into the informal briefing protocols set forth in the administrative order.

Committee note: Informal briefing in the Appellate Court is intended to provide meaningful review of issues raised by self-represented parties without requiring compliance with the technical requirements of Rules 8-501 through 8-504. Informal briefing does not preclude the Court from dismissing an appeal pursuant to Rule 8-602 for a reason other than failure to comply with a Rule made inapplicable by this Rule.

(1) In the Supreme Court. In the Supreme Court, the time for filing a brief may be extended by (A) joint stipulation of the parties filed with the clerk so long as the appellant's brief and the appellee's brief are filed at least 30 days, and any reply brief is filed at least ten days, before the scheduled argument, or (B) order of the Court entered on its own initiative or on motion filed pursuant to Rule 1-204.

(2) In the Appellate Court. Subsection (b)(2) of this Rule governs extensions of time for filing briefs in the Appellate Court.

(1) Citation of Supplemental Authority. If a pertinent and significant authority comes to a party's attention after the party's brief has been filed, including after oral argument but before the mandate issues, the party promptly may file a Notice of Supplemental Citation. The Notice shall set forth the citation, state the reason for the supplemental citation, and refer either to a page of a brief or to a point argued orally. The body of the Notice may not exceed 350 words. Any response shall be filed promptly and limited to 350 words.

Cross reference: See Rule 19-303.3, concerning an attorney’s duty of candor to the tribunal.

(2) Supplemental Memoranda, Briefs, and Oral Argument. Upon receipt of a Notice of Supplemental Citation pursuant to subsection (e)(1) of this Rule, or on its own initiative, the Court may grant leave for, or direct the filing of, additional memoranda or supplemental briefs, and may require additional argument before, during, or after oral argument.

Source note: This Rule is derived from former Rules 1030 and 830 with the exception of subsection (a)(8) which is derived from the last sentence of former Rule Z56, subsection (b)(2) which is in part derived from Rule 833 and in part new, and section (e) which is derived from Fed. R. App. P. 28(j) and the Fourth Circuit’s Rule 28.