HANDBOOK ON BRIEFS AND ORAL ARGUMENTS by THE HON. ROBERT E. DAVISON and DAVID P. BERGSCHNEIDER ©2007 by the Office of the State Appellate Defender. All rights reserved. Updated 2020 by: Kerry Bryson & Shawn O’Toole, Deputy State Appellate Defenders State Appellate Defender Offices Administrative Office Third District Office 400 West Monroe - Suite 202 770 E. Etna Road Springfield, Illinois 62705 Ottawa, Illinois 61350 Phone: (217) 782-7203 Phone: (815) 434-5531 Fax: (217) 782-5385 Fax: (815) 434-2920 First District Office Fourth District Office 203 N. LaSalle, 24th Floor 400 West Monroe - Suite 303 Chicago, Illinois 60601 Springfield, Illinois 62705-5240 Phone: (312) 814-5472 Phone: (217) 782-3654 Fax: (312) 814-1447 Fax: (217) 524-2472 Second District Office Fifth District Office One Douglas Avenue, 2nd Floor 909 Water Tower Circle Elgin, Illinois 60120 Mount Vernon, Illinois 62864 Phone: (847) 695-8822 Phone: (618) 244-3466 Fax: (847) 695-8959 Fax: (618) 244-8471 Juvenile Defender Resource Center 400 West Monroe, Suite 202 Springfield, Illinois 62704 Phone: (217) 558-4606 Email: [email protected] i INTRODUCTION The first edition of this Handbook was written in the early 1970's by Kenneth L. Gillis, who went on to become a Circuit Court Judge in Cook County. The Handbook was later expanded by Robert E. Davison, former First Assistant Appellate Defender and Circuit Court Judge in Christian County. Although the Handbook has been updated on several occasions, the contributions of Judges Gillis and Davison remain an essential part. The lawyers who use this Handbook are encouraged to offer suggestions for improving future editions. David P. Bergschneider Legal Director Office of the State Appellate Defender 400 West Monroe, Suite 202 Springfield, IL 62705 March, 2007 Updated, January 2020 ii REVIEWING COURTS IN ILLINOIS ................................................................. 1 A. STRUCTURE ..................................................................................................... 1 1. Supreme Court ............................................................................................ 1 2. Appellate Court .......................................................................................... 1 B. JURISDICTION ................................................................................................ 2 1. Supreme Court ............................................................................................ 2 2. Appellate Court .......................................................................................... 4 POST-TRIAL REMEDIES .................................................................................... 6 A. DIRECT APPEAL ............................................................................................. 6 1. By the defendant ........................................................................................ 6 2. By the State ................................................................................................. 7 B. COLLATERAL REMEDIES ............................................................................ 8 1. Post-conviction petitions.......................................................................... 8 2. State habeas corpus ................................................................................. 10 3. Section 2-1401 petitions .......................................................................... 10 4. Mandamus, prohibition, supervisory authority ................................ 11 5. Federal habeas corpus ............................................................................ 12 PERFECTING CRIMINAL APPEALS ............................................................ 12 A. NOTICE OF APPEAL .................................................................................... 12 1. Time to file ................................................................................................. 12 2. Late notice of appeal ............................................................................... 13 iii 3. Form of ....................................................................................................... 13 4. Trial court jurisdiction ........................................................................... 14 B. APPEALS FROM GUILTY PLEAS ............................................................. 15 C. STATE APPEALS ........................................................................................... 18 D. APPEALS CONCERNING BAIL.................................................................. 19 E. DOCKETING STATEMENT ......................................................................... 20 THE RECORD ON APPEAL .............................................................................. 20 A. CONTENTS OF THE RECORD ................................................................... 20 B. FILING THE RECORD ................................................................................. 22 C. CORRECTING THE RECORD .................................................................... 24 D. SUFFICIENCY OF THE RECORD .............................................................. 24 READING THE RECORD & FINDING THE ISSUES ................................... 25 A. PRELIMINARY THOUGHTS ....................................................................... 25 B. WHERE TO BEGIN ........................................................................................ 28 1. What to look for - Where to look ........................................................... 28 BRIEF RULES ...................................................................................................... 30 A. GENERALLY ................................................................................................... 30 1. Appellant's Brief ....................................................................................... 30 2. Appellee's Brief ......................................................................................... 31 3. Reply Brief ................................................................................................. 32 4. Time for Filing Briefs .............................................................................. 32 5. Form of Briefs; Number of Copies; Service ........................................ 34 iv 6. Electronic Format .................................................................................... 35 7. Page Limitations ...................................................................................... 35 8. References to Parties .............................................................................. 35 9. Footnotes .................................................................................................... 36 10. Citations ..................................................................................................... 36 B. THE COVER OF THE BRIEF ...................................................................... 42 C. POINTS AND AUTHORITIES ..................................................................... 46 D. NATURE OF THE CASE ............................................................................... 52 E. ISSUES PRESENTED FOR REVIEW & APPLICABLE STANDARDS OF REVIEW ........................................................................... 53 1. Issues Presented ....................................................................................... 53 2. Standard of Review ................................................................................. 55 F. JURISDICTION .............................................................................................. 58 1. Supreme Court .......................................................................................... 58 2. Appellate Court ........................................................................................ 59 G. STATUTES INVOLVED ................................................................................ 60 H. STATEMENT OF FACTS .............................................................................. 61 1. Generally .................................................................................................... 61 2. Accuracy, Completeness, Honesty ........................................................ 61 3. Nonargumentative ................................................................................... 62 4. Order of Presenting the Facts ............................................................... 64 5. Source of Facts ......................................................................................... 66 v 6. Length ......................................................................................................... 66 7. Check Your Work ..................................................................................... 67 I. THE ARGUMENT ........................................................................................... 67 1. Generally .................................................................................................... 67 2. Purpose of the Argument ....................................................................... 68 3. State Your Position .................................................................................. 68 4. Argue the Facts ......................................................................................... 70 5. Assertions ................................................................................................... 70 6. Authorities ................................................................................................