This document outlines the anatomy and process of a civil appeal to the Rhode Island Supreme Court. It details the key steps including filing a notice of appeal within 20 days of judgment, requesting transcripts within 20 days, transmitting the record within 60 days, submitting Rule 12A statements, participating in a pre-briefing conference, submitting briefs or supplemental statements depending on the calendar assignment, participating in oral arguments ranging from 10-30 minutes depending on the calendar, and awaiting a decision which is typically released by July 1 each year. The process involves pre-docketing and post-docketing requirements and procedures.

1. Anatomy of a
Civil Appeal
Nicole J. Benjamin, Esq.
Adler Pollock & Sheehan P.C.
One Citizens Plaza, 8th Floor
Providence, RI 02903
nbenjamin@apslaw.com
to the Rhode Island Supreme Court
1© 2021 Adler Pollock & Sheehan P.C.

2. This includes the notice of appeal,
transcript request, transmission of
record and appellate mediation.
Pre-Docketing
01 02This includes the submission of
Rule 12A statements and the
pre-briefing conference.
Rule 12A Process
The time for oral argument is
dependent on whether the matter
is assigned to the show cause or
regular calendar.
Oral Argument
04 03This includes the submission of
either supplemental statements for
show cause matters or briefs for full
matters.
Briefing
A Civil Appeal
2

3. Mediation
Statements
in eligible cases
Transcript
Request
Notice of AppealJudgment, order or decree
20 days.
R.I. Sup. Ct. R. App.
P. 4(a)
20 days
(or 60 days is case is
eligible for mediation)
R.I. Sup. Ct. R. App.
P. 10(b)(1); 35(e)
20 days from notice of
mediation eligibility
R.I. Sup. Ct. R. App. P.
35(d)(1)
3
Transmission
of Record
60 days
(60 days from date of
transcript order if case is
eligible for mediation)
R.I. Sup. Ct. R. App. P.
11(a); 35(e)

4. Post-Docketing
Appellee’s 12A
Counterstatement of
the Case
Appellant’s 12A
Statement of the
Case
Docketing of Appeal
20 days
3,000 words
R.I. Sup. Ct. R. App.
P. 13(e) and 12A(1)
15 days
3,000 words
R.I. Sup. Ct. R. App.
P. 12A(2)
Rule 12A Briefing
4

5. Pre-briefing Conference
5
Assignment to
Show Cause
Assignment to
Regular
Calendar
Referral to Court
Conference
Rule 12A Conference
with single justice of the court
R.I. Sup. Ct. R. App. P.
12A(3)(a)
Shorter
briefing;
shorter
argument
R.I. Sup. Ct. R. App. P.
12A(3)(c)
May be decided by the
Court, assigned to show
cause or assigned to regular
calendar.
Longer
briefing;
longer
argument
R.I. Sup. Ct. R. App. P.
12A(3)(b)

6. Show Cause Briefing
6
20 days (unless otherwise ordered by the Court)
3,000 words
R.I. Sup. Ct. R. App. P. 12A(4)
Appellant’s Optional Supplemental Statement
10 days (unless otherwise ordered by the Court)
3,000 words
R.I. Sup. Ct. R. App. P. 12A(4)
Appellee’s Optional Supplemental
Counterstatement

7. Full Briefing
7
40 days (unless otherwise ordered by the Court)
15,000 words
R.I. Sup. Ct. R. App. P. 16(a), 16(f)
Appellant’s Brief
40 days (unless otherwise ordered by the Court)
15,000 words
R.I. Sup. Ct. R. App. P. 16(b), 16(f)
Appellee’s Brief
20 days (unless otherwise ordered by the Court)
7,500 words
R.I. Sup. Ct. R. App. P. 16(c), 16(f)
Appellant’s Reply Brief

8. Oral Argument – Show Cause
8
Appellant’s argument
R.I. Sup. Ct. R. App. P. 24(b)
10 minutes
10 minutes
2 minutes
Appellee’s argument
R.I. Sup. Ct. R. App. P. 24(b)
Appellant’s rebuttal
R.I. Sup. Ct. R. App. P. 24(b)

9. Oral Argument – Regular Calendar
9
Appellant’s argument
R.I. Sup. Ct. R. App. P. 24(b)
30 minutes
30 minutes
10 minutes
Appellee’s argument
R.I. Sup. Ct. R. App. P. 24(b)
Appellant’s rebuttal
R.I. Sup. Ct. R. App. P. 24(b)

10. 10
There is no deadline for the issuance of decisions but the Court
endeavors to release all decisions by July 1st each year.
Decision

11. AP&S’s Appellate Practice Group
For more on Rhode Island appellate
practice, please subscribe to our blog,
On Appeal: The AP&S Appellate Law
Blog:
https://www.apslaw.com/on-appeal/
11