Rule 7-3 Briefs

(a) Form of Briefs. The form of briefs shall be as follows:

(1) Briefs on Merit-Related Motions. Merit-related motions include motions filed pursuant to OCGA §§ 9-11-12; 9-11-23; 9-11-56; 9-11-65. Unless the Court orders otherwise, briefs on merit-related motions shall comply with the following requirements:

(A) Opening briefs shall not exceed 14,000 words.

(B) Response briefs shall not exceed 14,000 words.

(C) Reply briefs, if any, shall not exceed 7,500 words.

(D) The front cover, table of contents, page numbers, and signature block shall not count toward the word limitations in this subsection. All other text (e.g., footnotes, headings, subheadings, etc.) shall count toward the limitations.

(2) Briefs on Other Motions and Petitions. Except as otherwise provided in this rule, all other applications shall be made by motion without a supporting brief but may include a concise and incorporated memorandum of law, if appropriate based on the issue(s) presented. Unless the Court orders otherwise, briefing shall proceed in accordance with the following requirements:

(A) The motion or petition seeking relief shall not exceed 4,000 words.

(B) Response briefs, if any, to the motion or petition shall not exceed 4,000 words.

(C) Reply briefs, if any, shall not exceed 2,000 words.

(D) The caption, title, page numbers, and signature block shall not count toward the word limitations in this subsection. All other text (e.g., footnotes, headings, subheadings, etc.) shall count toward the limitations.

(E) The Court recognizes that motions that technically fall under this subsection may require more extensive briefing, and as such, the Court will consider requests to enlarge the limits set forth in this subsection on a case-by-case basis.

(3) Letter Briefs. Parties may use letters to provide updates to the Court or to address logistical, scheduling, or discreet legal issues, as directed by the Court. All such letters shall be e-filed via the Court's e-filing system. Counsel is, however, encouraged to contact the Court contemporaneous with the filing of such letters if the parties require the Court's immediate attention. Unless the Court orders otherwise, letters shall comply with the following requirements:

(A) A letter to the Court shall not exceed 1,000 words.

(B) The letterhead, header, address and delivery information, caption, salutation, complimentary close, signature, statement of enclosures, copy recipients, and page numbers shall not count toward the word limitation in this subsection. All other text shall count toward the limitation.

(C) The Court shall provide additional instructions if additional correspondence or briefing is requested or otherwise warranted.

(b) Certificate of Compliance. Any document type listed in section (a) of this rule shall include in the signature block the term "Words:" followed by the number of words in the document. Use of the term "Words:" constitutes a certification by the signatory of the document, whether counsel or self-represented litigant, that the document complies with the typeface and word limitation requirements of this rule. In so certifying, the signatory may rely on the word count of the word processing system used to prepare the document.