| 2-5.110 | Appellate Supervision |
| 2-5.111 | Preparation of Appellate Briefs |
| 2-5.112 | Review of Appellate Briefs |
| 2-5.113 | Preparation for Oral Argument |
| 2-5.114 | Appellate Training |
| 2-5.115 | Appellate Standards |
2-5.110 - Appellate Supervision
Every United States Attorney must designate an AUSA to supervise all criminal appellate matters, and the same or a different AUSA to supervise all civil appellate matters. Such an AUSA appellate chief must have the responsibility, authority, and time to supervise and coordinate appellate brief-writing, appellate argument, and other appellate matters; review and report adverse decisions; review and forward government appeal recommendations; and serve as the point of contact with the Main Justice appellate sections and the Solicitor General's Office on appellate-related matters for his or her area of responsibility. It is recommended but not required that the supervisory appellate AUSA be publicly designated as the "appellate chief."
2-5.111 - Preparation of Appellate Briefs
For appeals handled by the USAOs, every appellate brief must be assigned to an AUSA or Special AUSA who is responsible for preparing a brief that best presents the government's position in the case. In every case, the AUSA or Special AUSA assigned to handle the appeal shall review opposing counsel's brief, the record, and all pertinent legal authority. It is strongly recommended that every appellate brief be drafted in its entirety by the assigned AUSA or Special AUSA unless a government attorney from one of the Department's litigating components takes a role in drafting the brief. If the United States Attorney permits the use of qualified paralegal specialists or law students to draft some appellate briefs, each brief or portion of a brief drafted by a paralegal specialist or law student must be subjected to rigorous review by the attorney who is responsible for preparing the brief, as well as by the responsible AUSA supervising appellate matters, an appellate AUSA, or another AUSA with significant appellate experience (the "brief reviewer").
2-5.112 - Review of Appellate Briefs
Before an appellate brief is filed in the court of appeals, the brief must be reviewed and edited by the AUSA supervising appellate matters, an appellate AUSA, or another AUSA with significant appellate experience.
2-5.113 - Preparation for Oral Argument
Every oral argument must be preceded by a discussion of the issues between the AUSA or Special AUSA arguing the case and, at a minimum, the responsible AUSA supervising appellate matters or the brief reviewer. Adding one or more attorneys to the discussion, and requiring the arguing attorney to answer questions as he or she would in the appellate court, is encouraged in all cases, and is required in the limited number of oral arguments involving: (a) an en banc court; (b) an affirmative government appeal; (c) an issue of unusual significance to the office or Department; (d) a claim of serious prosecutorial misconduct; or (e) the first appellate argument of an AUSA or Special AUSA.
2-5.114 - Appellate Training
AUSAs and Special AUSAs handling appeals should have sufficient training to ensure the proper handling of appellate work.
2-5.115 - Appellate Standards
Commentary to these standards for the handling of appellate matters within the USAO are set forth in Appeals Resource Manual 2.
[new October 2010]