Rule Text
(a) All motions, suggestions, and pleadings shall be signed by at least one attorney of record in the attorney's individual name or by the self-represented party.
(b) Unless otherwise ordered by the court, suggestions in opposition thereto may be filed within five days after the date of service. No motion shall be argued unless by direction of the court.
Amendment history: (Adopted June 13, 1979, eff. Jan. 1, 1980. Amended July 27, 1979; amended Sept. 11, 1990, eff. July 1, 1991; Sept. 28, 1993, eff. Jan. 1, 1994; Dec. 22, 2009, eff. July 1, 2010; May 19, 2016, eff. Jan. 1, 2017.)
Plain-English Summary (for reference only — not a substitute for the rule text above)
This summary is not the rule. The rule text controls.
Every motion, suggestion, or pleading filed with the appeals court needs a real signature. If you have a lawyer, the lawyer must sign it using their own name. If you're representing yourself, you sign it yourself. This rule makes sure someone is officially taking responsibility for what's being filed.
If the other side wants to argue against a motion, they generally have five days after they were served to file their response. This deadline can change if the court says otherwise. Also, don't expect to argue a motion out loud in court unless the judges specifically ask for that. Normally, these matters get decided based on the written papers alone, not a spoken argument.