Rule 30.10 Motions and Suggestions

If you file a motion in an appeals court during a criminal case, this rule tells you which format rules to follow. It says you must use the same rules that apply to motions in civil appeals, found in Rule 84.01.

In practice, this means the courts do not use separate rules for criminal and civil motions at the appellate level. Whether your case is criminal or civil, the requirements for how you write and submit a motion to the appeals court are the same. This keeps things consistent and easier to follow, since lawyers and self-represented people do not need to learn two different sets of rules depending on the type of case.

If you want to know the specific requirements, like page limits, what to include, or how to support your motion with legal arguments, you need to look at Rule 84.01 itself. This rule simply points you there.