Amicus Brief

An amicus brief is a filing submitted by someone who is not a party to a case but wants to provide information, legal arguments, or perspective that may assist the court. The court’s rules determine who may file, when a brief is due, and what it may contain.

Example: In Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization, organizations and other nonparties submitted amicus briefs addressing the constitutional questions before the Supreme Court.

Common misconception: An amicus brief makes its author a party to the case. Amici are not the parties whose claims the court must decide, and the court is not required to adopt their arguments.

Sources: https://www.supremecourt.gov/docket/docketfiles/html/public/19-1392.html; https://www.supremecourt.gov/filingandrules/2023RulesoftheCourt.pdf