The Texas Supreme Court has proposed changing the length limits for appellate briefs. On June 22, the Supreme Court Advisory Committee (SCAC) reviewed and made comments about the proposal, which would amend Texas Rule of Appellate Procedure 9 to create word limits — instead of page limits — for appellate briefs. “There were a couple of attorneys who wanted a longer limit for petitions for review, so that was put on the table. Then there were some judges who thought the limits were too long,” says Supreme Court rules attorney Marisa Secco. She notes the SCAC did not make formal recommendations for changes but she plans to present its comments to the high court. The proposal includes the following word limits:

• direct appeal death-penalty brief to the Texas Court of Criminal Appeals — 37,500 words;