Part 4 · Proceedings in the Supreme Court

Rule 71.1. Direct Appeal

Amended January 1, 2026 (current)

Cases in which the death penalty has been assessed under Code of Criminal Procedure article 37.071, and cases in which bail has been denied in non-capital cases under Article I, Section 11a of the Constitution, are appealed directly to the Court of Criminal Appeals. 71.2 . Record The appellate record should be prepared and filed in accordance with Rules 31, 32, 34, 35 and 37, except that the record must be filed in the Court of Criminal Appeals. After disposition of the appeal, the Court may discard copies of juror information cards or other portions of the clerk’s record that are not relevant to an issue on appeal. 71.3 . Briefs Briefs in a direct appeal should be prepared and filed in accordance with Rules 9 and 38, except that the brief need not contain an appendix (Rule 38.1(k)). All briefs must be filed in the Court of Criminal Appeals. The brief must include a short statement of why oral argument would be helpful, or a statement that oral argument is waived.