The proposed amendment to Rule 18(b)(1) redefines the time within which an appellant in a civil case must serve on the appellee a designation of the items the appellant intends to include in the record appendix and a statement of the legal issues the appellant intends to raise. As amended, the rule would require the appellant to serve the designation and statement within fourteen days after receiving notice from the clerk of the appellate court, pursuant to Rule 10(a)(3), that the appeal has been docketed in the appellate court. This new deadline would come fourteen days later in the appellant's brief-preparation process than the existing deadline, thus providing more time for the appellant to begin drafting the brief before serving the designation and statement. The change would not affect the deadlines for filing the appellant's brief and record appendix themselves.
Comments should be directed to Timothy E. Maguire, Supreme Judicial Court, John Adams Courthouse, One Pemberton Square, Boston, MA 02108 on or before August 6, 2025. Comments may also be emailed to timothy.maguire@jud.state.ma.us. Comments received will be made available to the public.
Proposed Amendment to Rule 18 of Massachusetts Rules of Appellate Procedure