Legislación
US (United States) Code. Title 28. Appendix 1
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TITLE 28, APPENDIX - JUDICIAL PERSONNEL FINANCIAL DISCLOSURE
REQUIREMENTS 01/06/03
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TITLE 28 - APPENDIX
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Item Page
Judicial Personnel Financial Disclosure Requirements (Repealed) 579
Development of Mechanisms for Resolving Minor Disputes (Omitted) 580
Federal Rules of Appellate Procedure 581
Federal Rules of Civil Procedure 641
Federal Rules of Evidence 852
Rules of the Supreme Court of the United States 935
Rules of the United States Court of Federal Claims 955
Rules of the United States Court of International Trade 1025
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28 USC APPENDIX JUDICIAL PERSONNEL FINANCIAL
DISCLOSURE REQUIREMENTS 01/06/03
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TITLE 28 - APPENDIX
JUDICIAL PERSONNEL FINANCIAL DISCLOSURE REQUIREMENTS
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JUDICIAL PERSONNEL FINANCIAL DISCLOSURE REQUIREMENTS
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[Title III (Secs. 301-309) of Pub. L. 95-521, Oct. 26, 1978, 92
Stat. 1851-1861, as amended by Pub. L. 96-19, Secs. 2(a)(3),
(c)(3), 3(a)(3), (b), 4(c), 6, 7(a)-(c), (d)(2), (e), (f), 8(c),
9(c)(3), (d), (j), (p)-(r), June 13, 1979, 93 Stat. 37-43; Pub. L.
96-417, title VI, Sec. 601(9), Oct. 10, 1980, 94 Stat. 1744; Pub.
L. 96-579, Sec. 12(c), Dec. 23, 1980, 94 Stat. 3369; Pub. L.
97-164, title I, Sec. 163(a)(6), Apr. 2, 1982, 96 Stat. 49; Pub. L.
98-150, Sec. 10, Nov. 11, 1983, 97 Stat. 962; Pub. L. 99-514, Sec.
2, Oct. 22, 1986, 100 Stat. 2095; Pub. L. 99-573, Sec. 6, Oct. 28,
1986, 100 Stat. 3231; Pub. L. 101-237, title VI, Sec. 602(a)(1),
Dec. 18, 1989, 103 Stat. 2094, which related to judicial personnel
financial disclosure requirements, was repealed by Pub. L. 101-194,
title II, Sec. 201, Nov. 30, 1989, 103 Stat. 1724. See title I of
the Ethics in Government Act of 1978, Pub. L. 95-521, as amended,
relating to financial disclosure requirements of Federal personnel,
set out in the Appendix to Title 5, Government Organization and
Employees.]
EFFECTIVE DATE OF REPEAL
Repeal effective Jan. 1, 1991, see section 204 of Pub. L.
101-194, set out as an Effective Date of 1989 Amendment note under
section 101 of Pub. L. 95-521 in the Appendix to Title 5,
Government Organization and Employees.
Provisions of title III of Pub. L. 95-521, as in effect prior to
Nov. 30, 1989, effective until Jan. 1, 1991, as if Pub. L. 101-194
had not been enacted, and nothing in title II of Pub. L. 101-194 to
be construed to prevent prosecution of civil actions against
individuals for violations of title III of Pub. L. 95-521 before
Jan. 1, 1991, see section 3(10)(C), (D) of Pub. L. 101-280, set out
as an Effective Date of 1989 Amendment note under section 101 of
Pub. L. 95-521 in the Appendix to Title 5.
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28 USC APPENDIX DEVELOPMENT OF MECHANISMS FOR
RESOLVING MINOR DISPUTES 01/06/03
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TITLE 28 - APPENDIX
DEVELOPMENT OF MECHANISMS FOR RESOLVING MINOR DISPUTES
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DEVELOPMENT OF MECHANISMS FOR RESOLVING MINOR DISPUTES
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CODIFICATION
Pub. L. 96-190, Feb. 12, 1980, 94 Stat. 17, known as the Dispute
Resolution Act, provided for the establishment and maintenance of
mechanisms for resolving minor disputes, established the Dispute
Resolution Resource Center and Dispute Resolution Advisory Board,
prescribed duties for the Center and Board, authorized
appropriations for the Center and Board of $1,000,000 for each of
the fiscal years 1980, 1981, 1982, 1983, and 1984, directed that
financial assistance to eligible applicants be in the form of
grants, prescribed conditions for such grants, authorized
appropriations for such grants of $10,000,000 for each of the
fiscal years 1981, 1982, 1983, and 1984, and required an annual
report by the Attorney General to the President and Congress
relating to the administration of Pub. L. 96-190.
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28 USC APPENDIX FEDERAL RULES OF APPELLATE
PROCEDURE 01/06/03
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TITLE 28 - APPENDIX
FEDERAL RULES OF APPELLATE PROCEDURE
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FEDERAL RULES OF APPELLATE PROCEDURE
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(AS AMENDED TO JANUARY 6, 2003)
HISTORICAL NOTE
The Federal Rules of Appellate Procedure were adopted by order of
the Supreme Court on Dec. 4, 1967, transmitted to Congress by the
Chief Justice on Jan. 15, 1968, and became effective on July 1,
1968.
The Rules have been amended Mar. 30, 1970, eff. July 1, 1970;
Mar. 1, 1971, eff. July 1, 1971; Apr. 24, 1972, eff. Oct. 1, 1972;
Apr. 30, 1979, eff. Aug. 1, 1979; Oct. 12, 1984, Pub. L. 98-473,
title II, Sec. 210, 98 Stat 1987; Mar. 10, 1986, eff. July 1, 1986;
Nov. 18, 1988, Pub. L. 100-690, title VII, Sec. 7111, 102 Stat.
4419; Apr. 25, 1989, eff. Dec. 1, 1989; Apr. 30, 1991, eff. Dec. 1,
1991; Apr. 22, 1993, eff. Dec. 1, 1993; Apr. 29, 1994, eff. Dec. 1,
1994; Apr. 27, 1995, eff. Dec. 1, 1995; Apr. 23, 1996, eff. Dec. 1,
1996; Apr. 24, 1996, Pub. L. 104-132, title I, Sec. 103, 110 Stat.
1218; Apr. 24, 1998, eff. Dec. 1, 1998; Apr. 29, 2002, eff. Dec. 1,
2002.
TITLE I. APPLICABILITY OF RULES
Rule
1. Scope of Rules; Title.
2. Suspension of Rules.
TITLE II. APPEAL FROM A JUDGMENT OR ORDER OF A DISTRICT COURT
3. Appeal as of Right - How Taken.
[3.1. Abrogated.]
4. Appeal as of Right - When Taken.
5. Appeal by Permission.
[5.1. Abrogated.]
6. Appeal in a Bankruptcy Case from a Final Judgment,
Order, or Decree of a District Court or Bankruptcy
Appellate Panel.
7. Bond for Costs on Appeal in a Civil Case.
8. Stay or Injunction Pending Appeal.
9. Release in a Criminal Case.
10. The Record on Appeal.
11. Forwarding the Record.
12. Docketing the Appeal; Filing a Representation
Statement; Filing the Record.
TITLE III. REVIEW OF A DECISION OF THE UNITED STATES TAX COURT
13. Review of a Decision of the Tax Court.
14. Applicability of Other Rules to the Review of a Tax
Court Decision.
TITLE IV. REVIEW OR ENFORCEMENT OF AN ORDER OF AN ADMINISTRATIVE
AGENCY, BOARD, COMMISSION, OR OFFICER
15. Review or Enforcement of an Agency Order - How
Obtained; Intervention.
15.1. Briefs and Oral Argument in a National Labor Relations
Board Proceeding.
16. The Record on Review or Enforcement.
17. Filing the Record.
18. Stay Pending Review.
19. Settlement of a Judgment Enforcing an Agency Order in
Part.
20. Applicability of Rules to the Review or Enforcement of
an Agency Order.
TITLE V. EXTRAORDINARY WRITS
21. Writs of Mandamus and Prohibition, and Other
Extraordinary Writs.
TITLE VI. HABEAS CORPUS; PROCEEDINGS IN FORMA PAUPERIS
22. Habeas Corpus and Section 2255 Proceedings.
23. Custody or Release of a Prisoner in a Habeas Corpus
Proceeding.
24. Proceeding in Forma Pauperis.
TITLE VII. GENERAL PROVISIONS
25. Filing and Service.
26. Computing and Extending Time.
26.1. Corporate Disclosure Statement.
27. Motions.
28. Briefs.
29. Brief of an Amicus Curiae.
30. Appendix to the Briefs.
31. Serving and Filing Briefs.
32. Form of Briefs, Appendices, and Other Papers.
33. Appeal Conferences.
34. Oral Argument.
35. En Banc Determination.
36. Entry of Judgment; Notice.
37. Interest on Judgment.
38. Frivolous Appeal - Damages and Costs.
39. Costs.
40. Petition for Panel Rehearing.
41. Mandate: Contents; Issuance and Effective Date; Stay.
42. Voluntary Dismissal.
43. Substitution of Parties.
44. Case Involving a Constitutional Question When the
United States or the Relevant State is Not a Party.
45. Clerk's Duties.
46. Attorneys.
47. Local Rules by Courts of Appeals.
48. Masters.
APPENDIX OF FORMS
Form
1. Notice of Appeal to a Court of Appeals From a Judgment
or Order of a District Court.
2. Notice of Appeal to a Court of Appeals From a Decision
of the United States Tax Court.
3. Petition for Review of Order of an Agency, Board,
Commission or Officer.
4. Affidavit to Accompany Motion for Leave to Appeal in
Forma Pauperis.
5. Notice of Appeal to a Court of Appeals from a Judgment
or Order of a District Court or a Bankruptcy
Appellate Panel.
6. Certificate of Compliance With Rule 32(a).
EFFECTIVE DATE AND APPLICATION OF RULES
Section 2 of the Order of the Supreme Court, dated Dec. 4, 1967,
provided: "That the foregoing rules shall take effect on July 1,
1968, and shall govern all proceedings in appeals and petitions for
review or enforcement of orders thereafter brought in and in all
such proceedings then pending, except to the extent that in the
opinion of the court of appeals their application in a particular
proceeding then pending would not be feasible or would work
injustice, in which case the former procedure may be followed."
EFFECTIVE DATE OF 1970 AMENDMENT; TRANSMISSION TO CONGRESS
Sections 2 and 3 of the Order of the Supreme Court, dated Mar.
30, 1970, provided:
"2. That the foregoing amendments to the Federal Rules of
Appellate Procedure shall take effect on July 1, 1970, and shall
govern all proceedings in actions brought thereafter and also in
all further proceedings in actions then pending, except to the
extent that in the opinion of the court their application in a
particular action then pending would not be feasible or would work
injustice, in which event the former procedure applies.
"3. That the Chief Justice be, and he hereby is, authorized to
transmit to the Congress the foregoing amendments to existing
rules, in accordance with the provisions of Title 18, U.S.C. Sec.
3372, and Title 28, U.S.C. Secs. 2072 and 2075."
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28 USC APPENDIX TITLE I. APPLICABILITY OF RULES 01/06/03
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TITLE 28 - APPENDIX
FEDERAL RULES OF APPELLATE PROCEDURE
TITLE I. APPLICABILITY OF RULES
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TITLE I. APPLICABILITY OF RULES
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28 USC APPENDIX Rule 1 01/06/03
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TITLE 28 - APPENDIX
FEDERAL RULES OF APPELLATE PROCEDURE
TITLE I. APPLICABILITY OF RULES
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Rule 1. Scope of Rules; Title
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(a) Scope of Rules.
(1) These rules govern procedure in the United States courts of
appeals.
(2) When these rules provide for filing a motion or other
document in the district court, the procedure must comply with
the practice of the district court.
(b) [Abrogated.]
(c) Title. These rules are to be known as the Federal Rules of
Appellate Procedure.
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(As amended Apr. 30, 1979, eff. Aug. 1, 1979; Apr. 25, 1989, eff.
Dec. 1, 1989; Apr. 29, 1994, eff. Dec. 1, 1994; Apr. 24, 1998, eff.
Dec. 1, 1998; Apr. 29, 2002, eff. Dec. 1, 2002.)
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NOTES OF ADVISORY COMMITTEE ON RULES - 1967
These rules are drawn under the authority of 28 U.S.C. Sec. 2072,
as amended by the Act of November 6, 1966, 80 Stat. 1323 (1 U.S.
Code Cong. & Ad. News, p. 1546 (1966)) (Rules of Civil Procedure);
28 U.S.C. Sec. 2075 (Bankruptcy Rules); and 18 U.S.C. Secs. 3771
(Procedure to and including verdict) and 3772 (Procedure after
verdict). Those statutes combine to give to the Supreme Court power
to make rules of practice and procedure for all cases within the
jurisdiction of the courts of appeals. By the terms of the
statutes, after the rules have taken effect all laws in conflict
with them are of no further force or effect. Practice and procedure
in the eleven courts of appeals are now regulated by rules
promulgated by each court under the authority of 28 U.S.C. Sec.
2071. Rule 47 expressly authorizes the courts of appeals to make
rules of practice not inconsistent with these rules.
As indicated by the titles under which they are found, the
following rules are of special application: Rules 3 through 12
apply to appeals from judgments and orders of the district courts;
Rules 13 and 14 apply to appeals from decisions of the Tax Court
(Rule 13 establishes an appeal as the mode of review of decisions
of the Tax Court in place of the present petition for review);
Rules 15 through 20 apply to proceedings for review or enforcement
of orders of administrative agencies, boards, commissions and
officers. Rules 22 through 24 regulate habeas corpus proceedings
and appeals in forma pauperis. All other rules apply to all
proceedings in the courts of appeals.
NOTES OF ADVISORY COMMITTEE ON RULES - 1979 AMENDMENT
The Federal Rules of Appellate Procedure were designed as an
integrated set of rules to be followed in appeals to the courts of
appeals, covering all steps in the appellate process, whether they
take place in the district court or in the court of appeals, and
with their adoption Rules 72-76 of the F.R.C.P. were abrogated. In
some instances, however, the F.R.A.P. provide that a motion or
application for relief may, or must, be made in the district court.
See Rules 4(a), 10(b), and 24. The proposed amendment would make it
clear that when this is so the motion or application is to be made
in the form and manner prescribed by the F.R.C.P. or F.R.Cr.P. and
local rules relating to the form and presentation of motions and is
not governed by Rule 27 of the F.R.A.P. See Rule 7(b) of the
F.R.C.P. and Rule 47 of the F.R.Cr.P.
NOTES OF ADVISORY COMMITTEE ON RULES - 1989 AMENDMENT
The amendment is technical. No substantive change is intended.
NOTES OF ADVISORY COMMITTEE ON RULES - 1994 AMENDMENT
Subdivision (c). A new subdivision is added to the rule. The text
of new subdivision (c) has been moved from Rule 48 to Rule 1 to
allow the addition of new rules at the end of the existing set of
appellate rules without burying the title provision among other
rules. In a similar fashion the Bankruptcy Rules combine the
provisions governing the scope of the rules and the title in the
first rule.
COMMITTEE NOTES ON RULES - 1998 AMENDMENT
The language and organization of the rule are amended to make the
rule more easily understood. In addition to changes made to improve
the understanding, the Advisory Committee has changed language to
make style and terminology consistent throughout the appellate
rules. These changes are intended to be stylistic only. The
Advisory Committee recommends deleting the language in subdivision
(a) that describes the different types of proceedings that may be
brought in a court of appeals. The Advisory Committee believes that
the language is unnecessary and that its omission does not work any
substantive change.
COMMITTEE NOTES ON RULES - 2002 AMENDMENT
Subdivision (b). Two recent enactments make it likely that, in
the future, one or more of the Federal Rules of Appellate Procedure
("FRAP") will extend or limit the jurisdiction of the courts of
appeals. In 1990, Congress amended the Rules Enabling Act to give
the Supreme Court authority to use the federal rules of practice
and procedure to define when a ruling of a district court is final
for purposes of 28 U.S.C. Sec. 1291. See 28 U.S.C. Sec. 2072(c). In
1992, Congress amended 28 U.S.C. Sec. 1292 to give the Supreme
Court authority to use the federal rules of practice and procedure
to provide for appeals of interlocutory decisions that are not
already authorized by 28 U.S.C. Sec. 1292. See 28 U.S.C. Sec.
1292(e). Both Sec. 1291 and Sec. 1292 are unquestionably
jurisdictional statutes, and thus, as soon as FRAP is amended to
define finality for purposes of the former or to authorize
interlocutory appeals not provided for by the latter, FRAP will
"extend or limit the jurisdiction of the courts of appeals," and
subdivision (b) will become obsolete. For that reason, subdivision
(b) has been abrogated.
Changes Made After Publication and Comments. No changes were made
to the text of the proposed amendment or to the Committee Note.
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28 USC APPENDIX Rule 2 01/06/03
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TITLE 28 - APPENDIX
FEDERAL RULES OF APPELLATE PROCEDURE
TITLE I. APPLICABILITY OF RULES
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Rule 2. Suspension of Rules
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On its own or a party's motion, a court of appeals may - to
expedite its decision or for other good cause - suspend any
provision of these rules in a particular case and order proceedings
as it directs, except as otherwise provided in Rule 26(b).
-SOURCE-
(As amended Apr. 24, 1998, eff. Dec. 1, 1998.)
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NOTES OF ADVISORY COMMITTEE ON RULES - 1967
The primary purpose of this rule is to make clear the power of
the courts of appeals to expedite the determination of cases of
pressing concern to the public or to the litigants by prescribing a
time schedule other than that provided by the rules. The rule also
contains a general authorization to the courts to relieve litigants
of the consequences of default where manifest injustice would
otherwise result. Rule 26(b) prohibits a court of appeals from
extending the time for taking appeal or seeking review.
COMMITTEE NOTES ON RULES - 1998 AMENDMENT
The language of the rule is amended to make the rule more easily
understood. In addition to changes made to improve the
understanding, the Advisory Committee has changed language to make
style and terminology consistent throughout the appellate rules.
These changes are intended to be stylistic only.
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28 USC APPENDIX TITLE II. APPEAL FROM A JUDGMENT
OR ORDER OF A DISTRICT COURT 01/06/03
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TITLE 28 - APPENDIX
FEDERAL RULES OF APPELLATE PROCEDURE
TITLE II. APPEAL FROM A JUDGMENT OR ORDER OF A DISTRICT COURT
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TITLE II. APPEAL FROM A JUDGMENT OR ORDER OF A DISTRICT COURT
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28 USC APPENDIX Rule 3 01/06/03
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TITLE 28 - APPENDIX
FEDERAL RULES OF APPELLATE PROCEDURE
TITLE II. APPEAL FROM A JUDGMENT OR ORDER OF A DISTRICT COURT
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Rule 3. Appeal as of Right - How Taken
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(a) Filing the Notice of Appeal.
(1) An appeal permitted by law as of right from a district
court to a court of appeals may be taken only by filing a notice
of appeal with the district clerk within the time allowed by Rule
4. At the time of filing, the appellant must furnish the clerk
with enough copies of the notice to enable the clerk to comply
with Rule 3(d).
(2) An appellant's failure to take any step other than the
timely filing of a notice of appeal does not affect the validity
of the appeal, but is ground only for the court of appeals to act
as it considers appropriate, including dismissing the appeal.
(3) An appeal from a judgment by a magistrate judge in a civil
case is taken in the same way as an appeal from any other
district court judgment.
(4) An appeal by permission under 28 U.S.C. Sec. 1292(b) or an
appeal in a bankruptcy case may be taken only in the manner
prescribed by Rules 5 and 6, respectively.
(b) Joint or Consolidated Appeals.
(1) When two or more parties are entitled to appeal from a
district-court judgment or order, and their interests make
joinder practicable, they may file a joint notice of appeal. They
may then proceed on appeal as a single appellant.
(2) When the parties have filed separate timely notices of
appeal, the appeals may be joined or consolidated by the court of
appeals.
(c) Contents of the Notice of Appeal.
(1) The notice of appeal must:
(A) specify the party or parties taking the appeal by naming
each one in the caption or body of the notice, but an attorney
representing more than one party may describe those parties
with such terms as "all plaintiffs," "the defendants," "the
plaintiffs A, B, et al.," or "all defendants except X";
(B) designate the judgment, order, or part thereof being
appealed; and
(C) name the court to which the appeal is taken.
(2) A pro se notice of appeal is considered filed on behalf of
the signer and the signer's spouse and minor children (if they
are parties), unless the notice clearly indicates otherwise.
(3) In a class action, whether or not the class has been
certified, the notice of appeal is sufficient if it names one
person qualified to bring the appeal as representative of the
class.
(4) An appeal must not be dismissed for informality of form or
title of the notice of appeal, or for failure to name a party
whose intent to appeal is otherwise clear from the notice.
(5) Form 1 in the Appendix of Forms is a suggested form of a
notice of appeal.
(d) Serving the Notice of Appeal.
(1) The district clerk must serve notice of the filing of a
notice of appeal by mailing a copy to each party's counsel of
record - excluding the appellant's - or, if a party is proceeding
pro se, to the party's last known address. When a defendant in a
criminal case appeals, the clerk must also serve a copy of the
notice of appeal on the defendant, either by personal service or
by mail addressed to the defendant. The clerk must promptly send
a copy of the notice of appeal and of the docket entries - and
any later docket entries - to the clerk of the court of appeals
named in the notice. The district clerk must note, on each copy,
the date when the notice of appeal was filed.
(2) If an inmate confined in an institution files a notice of
appeal in the manner provided by Rule 4(c), the district clerk
must also note the date when the clerk docketed the notice.
(3) The district clerk's failure to serve notice does not
affect the validity of the appeal. The clerk must note on the
docket the names of the parties to whom the clerk mails copies,
with the date of mailing. Service is sufficient despite the death
of a party or the party's counsel.
(e) Payment of Fees. Upon filing a notice of appeal, the
appellant must pay the district clerk all required fees. The
district clerk receives the appellate docket fee on behalf of the
court of appeals.
-SOURCE-
(As amended Apr. 30, 1979, eff. Aug. 1, 1979; Mar. 10, 1986, eff.
July 1, 1986; Apr. 25, 1989, eff. Dec. 1, 1989; Apr. 22, 1993, eff.
Dec. 1, 1993; Apr. 29, 1994, eff. Dec. 1, 1994; Apr. 24, 1998, eff.
Dec. 1, 1998.)
-MISC1-
NOTES OF ADVISORY COMMITTEE ON RULES - 1967
General Note. Rule 3 and Rule 4 combine to require that a notice
of appeal be filed with the clerk of the district court within the
time prescribed for taking an appeal. Because the timely filing of
a notice of appeal is "mandatory and jurisdictional," United States
v. Robinson, 361 U.S. 220, 224, 80 S.Ct. 282, 4 L.Ed.2d 259 (1960),
compliance with the provisions of those rules is of the utmost
importance. But the proposed rules merely restate, in modified
form, provisions now found in the civil and criminal rules (FRCP
5(e), 73; FRCrP 37), and decisions under the present rules which
dispense with literal compliance in cases in which it cannot fairly
be exacted should control interpretation of these rules.
Illustrative decisions are: Fallen v. United States, 378 U.S. 139,
84 S.Ct. 1689, 12 L.Ed.2d 760 (1964) (notice of appeal by a
prisoner, in the form of a letter delivered, well within the time
fixed for appeal, to prison authorities for mailing to the clerk of
the district court held timely filed notwithstanding that it was
received by the clerk after expiration of the time for appeal; the
appellant "did all he could" to effect timely filing); Richey v.
Wilkins, 335 F.2d 1 (2d Cir. 1964) (notice filed in the court of
appeals by a prisoner without assistance of counsel held
sufficient); Halfen v. United States, 324 F.2d 52 (10th Cir. 1963)
(notice mailed to district judge in time to have been received by
him in normal course held sufficient); Riffle v. United States, 299
F.2d 802 (5th Cir. 1962) (letter of prisoner to judge of court of
appeals held sufficient). Earlier cases evidencing "a liberal view
of papers filed by indigent and incarcerated defendants" are listed
in Coppedge v. United States, 369 U.S. 438, 442, n. 5, 82 S.Ct.
917, 8 L.Ed.2d 21 (1962).
Subdivision (a). The substance of this subdivision is derived
from FRCP 73(a) and FRCrP 37(a)(1). The proposed rule follows those
rules in requiring nothing other than the filing of a notice of
appeal in the district court for the perfection of the appeal. The
petition for allowance (except for appeals governed by Rules 5 and
6), citations, assignments of error, summons and severance - all
specifically abolished by earlier modern rules - are assumed to be
sufficiently obsolete as no longer to require pointed abolition.
Subdivision (b). The first sentence is derived from FRCP 74. The
second sentence is added to encourage consolidation of appeals
whenever feasible.
Subdivision (c). This subdivision is identical with corresponding
provisions in FRCP 73(b) and FRCrP 37(a)(1).
Subdivision (d). This subdivision is derived from FRCP 73(b) and
FRCrP 37(a)(1). The duty of the clerk to forward a copy of the
notice of appeal and of the docket entries to the court of appeals
in a criminal case extended to habeas corpus and 28 U.S.C. Sec.
2255 proceedings.
NOTES OF ADVISORY COMMITTEE ON RULES - 1979 AMENDMENT
Subdivision (c). The proposed amendment would add the last
sentence. Because of the fact that the timely filing of the notice
of appeal has been characterized as jurisdictional (See, e.g.,
Brainerd v. Beal (C.A. 7th, 1974) 498 F.2d 901, in which the filing
of a notice of appeal one day late was fatal), it is important that
the right to appeal not be lost by mistakes of mere form. In a
number of decided cases it has been held that so long as the
function of notice is met by the filing of a paper indicating an
intention to appeal, the substance of the rule has been complied
with. See, e.g., Cobb v. Lewis (C.A. 5th, 1974) 488 F.2d 41; Holley
v. Capps (C.A. 5th, 1972) 468 F.2d 1366. The proposed amendment
would give recognition to this practice.
When a notice of appeal is filed, the clerk should ascertain
whether any judgment designated therein has been entered in
compliance with Rules 58 and 79(a) of the F.R.C.P. See Note to Rule
4(a)(6), infra.
Subdivision (d). The proposed amendment would extend to civil
cases the present provision applicable to criminal cases, habeas
corpus cases, and proceedings under 28 U.S.C. Sec. 2255, requiring
the clerk of the district court to transmit to the clerk of the
court of appeals a copy of the notice of appeal and of the docket
entries, which should include reference to compliance with the
requirements for payment of fees. See Note to (e), infra.
This requirement is the initial step in proposed changes in the
rules to place in the court of appeals an increased practical
control over the early steps in the appeal.
Subdivision (e). Proposed new Rule 3(e) represents the second
step in shifting to the court of appeals the control of the early
stages of an appeal. See Note to Rule 3(d) above. Under the present
rules the payment of the fee prescribed by 28 U.S.C. 1917 is not
covered. Under the statute, however, this fee is paid to the clerk
of the district court at the time the notice of appeal is filed.
Under present Rule 12, the "docket fee" fixed by the Judicial
Conference of the United States under 28 U.S.C. Sec. 1913 must be
paid to the clerk of the court of appeals within the time fixed for
transmission of the record, ". . . and the clerk shall thereupon
enter the appeal upon the docket."
Under the proposed new Rule 3(e) both fees would be paid to the
clerk of the district court at the time the notice of appeal is
filed, the clerk of the district court receiving the docket fee on
behalf of the court of appeals.
In view of the provision in Rule 3(a) that "[f]ailure of an
appellant to take any step other than the timely filing of a notice
of appeal does not affect the validity of the appeal, but is ground
only for such action as the court of appeals deems appropriate,
which may include dismissal of the appeal," the case law indicates
that the failure to prepay the statutory filing fee does not
constitute a jurisdictional defect. See Parissi v. Telechron, 349
U.S. 46 (1955); Gould v. Members of N. J. Division of Water Policy
& Supply, 555 F.2d 340 (3d Cir. 1977). Similarly, under present
Rule 12, failure to pay the docket fee within the time prescribed
may be excused by the court of appeals. See, e. g., Walker v.
Mathews, 546 F.2d 814 (9th Cir. 1976). Proposed new Rule 3(e)
adopts the view of these cases, requiring that both fees be paid at
the time the notice of appeal is filed, but subject to the
provisions of Rule 26(b) preserving the authority of the court of
appeals to permit late payment.
NOTES OF ADVISORY COMMITTEE ON RULES - 1986 AMENDMENT
The amendments to Rule 3(d) are technical. No substantive change
is intended.
NOTES OF ADVISORY COMMITTEE ON RULES - 1989 AMENDMENT
The amendment is technical. No substantive change is intended.
NOTES OF ADVISORY COMMITTEE ON RULES - 1993 AMENDMENT
Note to subdivision (c). The amendment is intended to reduce the
amount of satellite litigation spawned by the Supreme Court's
decision in Torres v. Oakland Scavenger Co., 487 U.S. 312 (1988).
In Torres the Supreme Court held that the language in Rule 3(c)
requiring a notice of appeal to "specify the party or parties
taking the appeal" is a jurisdictional requirement and that naming
the first named party and adding "et al.," without any further
specificity is insufficient to identify the appellants. Since the
Torres decision, there has been a great deal of litigation
regarding whether a notice of appeal that contains some indication
of the appellants' identities but does not name the appellants is
sufficiently specific.
The amendment states a general rule that specifying the parties
should be done by naming them. Naming an appellant in an otherwise
timely and proper notice of appeal ensures that the appellant has
perfected an appeal. However, in order to prevent the loss of a
right to appeal through inadvertent omission of a party's name or
continued use of such terms as "et al.," which are sufficient in
all district court filings after the complaint, the amendment
allows an attorney representing more than one party the flexibility
to indicate which parties are appealing without naming them
individually. The test established by the rule for determining
whether such designations are sufficient is whether it is
objectively clear that a party intended to appeal. A notice of
appeal filed by a party proceeding pro se is filed on behalf of the
party signing the notice and the signer's spouse and minor
children, if they are parties, unless the notice clearly indicates
a contrary intent.
In class actions, naming each member of a class as an appellant
may be extraordinarily burdensome or even impossible. In class
actions if class certification has been denied, named plaintiffs
may appeal the order denying the class certification on their own
behalf and on behalf of putative class members, United States
Parole Comm'n v. Geraghty, 445 U.S. 388 (1980); or if the named
plaintiffs choose not to appeal the order denying the class
certification, putative class members may appeal, United Airlines,
Inc. v. McDonald, 432 U.S. 385 (1977). If no class has been
certified, naming each of the putative class members as an
appellant would often be impossible. Therefore the amendment
provides that in class actions, whether or not the class has been
certified, it is sufficient for the notice to name one person
qualified to bring the appeal as a representative of the class.
Finally, the rule makes it clear that dismissal of an appeal
should not occur when it is otherwise clear from the notice that
the party intended to appeal. If a court determines it is
objectively clear that a party intended to appeal, there are
neither administrative concerns nor fairness concerns that should
prevent the appeal from going forward.
Note to subdivision (d). The amendment requires the district
court clerk to send to the clerk of the court of appeals a copy of
every docket entry in a case after the filing of a notice of
appeal. This amendment accompanies the amendment to Rule 4(a)(4),
which provides that when one of the posttrial motions enumerated in
Rule 4(a)(4) is filed, a notice of appeal filed before the
disposition of the motion becomes effective upon disposition of the
motion. The court of appeals needs to be advised that the filing of
a posttrial motion has suspended a notice of appeal. The court of
appeals also needs to know when the district court has ruled on the
motion. Sending copies of all docket entries after the filing of a
notice of appeal should provide the courts of appeals with the
necessary information.
NOTES OF ADVISORY COMMITTEE ON RULES - 1994 AMENDMENT
Subdivision (a). The amendment requires a party filing a notice
of appeal to provide the court with sufficient copies of the notice
for service on all other parties.
COMMITTEE NOTES ON RULES - 1998 AMENDMENT
The language and organization of the rule are amended to make the
rule more easily understood. In addition to changes made to improve
the understanding, the Advisory Committee has changed language to
make style and terminology consistent throughout the appellate
rules. These changes are generally intended to be stylistic only;
in this rule, however, substantive changes are made in subdivisions
(a), (b), and (d).
Subdivision (a). The provision in paragraph (a)(3) is transferred
from former Rule 3.1(b). The Federal Courts Improvement Act of
1996, Pub. L. No. 104-317, repealed paragraphs (4) and (5) of 28
U.S.C. Sec. 636(c). That statutory change made the continued
separate existence of Rule 3.1 unnecessary. New paragraph (a)(3) of
this rule simply makes it clear that an appeal from a judgment by a
magistrate judge is taken in identical fashion to any other appeal
from a district-court judgment.
Subdivision (b). A joint appeal is authorized only when two or
more persons may appeal from a single judgment or order. A joint
appeal is treated as a single appeal and the joint appellants file
a single brief. Under existing Rule 3(b) parties decide whether to
join their appeals. They may do so by filing a joint notice of
appeal or by joining their appeals after filing separate notices of
appeal.
In consolidated appeals the separate appeals do not merge into
one. The parties do not proceed as a single appellant. Under
existing Rule 3(b) it is unclear whether appeals may be
consolidated without court order if the parties stipulate to
consolidation. The language resolves that ambiguity by requiring
court action.
The language also requires court action to join appeals after
separate notices of appeal have been filed.
Subdivision (d). Paragraph (d)(2) has been amended to require
that when an inmate files a notice of appeal by depositing the
notice in the institution's internal mail system, the clerk must
note the docketing date - rather than the receipt date - on the
notice of appeal before serving copies of it. This change conforms
to a change in Rule 4(c). Rule 4(c) is amended to provide that when
an inmate files the first notice of appeal in a civil case by
depositing the notice in an institution's internal mail system, the
time for filing a cross-appeal runs from the date the district
court dockets the inmate's notice of appeal. Existing Rule 4(c)
says that in such a case the time for filing a cross-appeal runs
from the date the district court receives the inmate's notice of
appeal. A court may "receive" a paper when its mail is delivered to
it even if the mail is not processed for a day or two, making the
date of receipt uncertain. "Docketing" is an easily identified
event. The change is made to eliminate the uncertainty.
-End-
-CITE-
28 USC APPENDIX Rule 3.1 01/06/03
-EXPCITE-
TITLE 28 - APPENDIX
FEDERAL RULES OF APPELLATE PROCEDURE
TITLE II. APPEAL FROM A JUDGMENT OR ORDER OF A DISTRICT COURT
-HEAD-
[Rule 3.1. Appeal from a Judgment of a Magistrate Judge in a Civil
Case] (Abrogated Apr. 24, 1998, eff. Dec. 1, 1998)
-STATUTE-
-MISC1-
COMMITTEE NOTES ON RULES - 1998 AMENDMENT
The Federal Courts Improvement Act of 1996, Pub. L. No. 104-317,
repealed paragraphs (4) and (5) of 28 U.S.C. Sec. 636(c). That
statutory change means that when parties consent to trial before a
magistrate judge, appeal lies directly, and as a matter of right,
to the court of appeals under Sec. 636(c)(3). The parties may not
choose to appeal first to a district judge and thereafter seek
discretionary review in the court of appeals.
As a result of the statutory amendments, subdivision (a) of Rule
3.1 is no longer necessary. Since Rule 3.1 existed primarily
because of the provisions in subdivision (a), subdivision (b) has
been moved to Rule 3(a)(3) and Rule 3.1 has been abrogated.
-End-
-CITE-
28 USC APPENDIX Rule 4 01/06/03
-EXPCITE-
TITLE 28 - APPENDIX
FEDERAL RULES OF APPELLATE PROCEDURE
TITLE II. APPEAL FROM A JUDGMENT OR ORDER OF A DISTRICT COURT
-HEAD-
Rule 4. Appeal as of Right - When Taken
-STATUTE-
(a) Appeal in a Civil Case.
(1) Time for Filing a Notice of Appeal.
(A) In a civil case, except as provided in Rules 4(a)(1)(B),
4(a)(4), and 4(c), the notice of appeal required by Rule 3 must
be filed with the district clerk within 30 days after the
judgment or order appealed from is entered.
(B) When the United States or its officer or agency is a
party, the notice of appeal may be filed by any party within 60
days after the judgment or order appealed from is entered.
(C) An appeal from an order granting or denying an
application for a writ of error coram nobis is an appeal in a
civil case for purposes of Rule 4(a).
(2) Filing Before Entry of Judgment. A notice of appeal filed
after the court announces a decision or order - but before the
entry of the judgment or order - is treated as filed on the date
of and after the entry.
(3) Multiple Appeals. If one party timely files a notice of
appeal, any other party may file a notice of appeal within 14
days after the date when the first notice was filed, or within
the time otherwise prescribed by this Rule 4(a), whichever period
ends later.
(4) Effect of a Motion on a Notice of Appeal.
(A) If a party timely files in the district court any of the
following motions under the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure,
the time to file an appeal runs for all parties from the entry
of the order disposing of the last such remaining motion:
(i) for judgment under Rule 50(b);
(ii) to amend or make additional factual findings under
Rule 52(b), whether or not granting the motion would alter
the judgment;
(iii) for attorney's fees under Rule 54 if the district
court extends the time to appeal under Rule 58;
(iv) to alter or amend the judgment under Rule 59;
(v) for a new trial under Rule 59; or
(vi) for relief under Rule 60 if the motion is filed no
later than 10 days after the judgment is entered.
(B)(i) If a party files a notice of appeal after the court
announces or enters a judgment - but before it disposes of any
motion listed in Rule 4(a)(4)(A) - the notice becomes effective
to appeal a judgment or order, in whole or in part, when the
order disposing of the last such remaining motion is entered.
(ii) A party intending to challenge an order disposing of any
motion listed in Rule 4(a)(4)(A), or a judgment altered or
amended upon such a motion, must file a notice of appeal, or an
amended notice of appeal - in compliance with Rule 3(c) -
within the time prescribed by this Rule measured from the entry
of the order disposing of the last such remaining motion. -
(iii) No additional fee is required to file an amended
notice.
(5) Motion for Extension of Time.
(A) The district court may extend the time to file a notice
of appeal if:
(i) a party so moves no later than 30 days after the time
prescribed by this Rule 4(a) expires; and
(ii) regardless of whether its motion is filed before or
during the 30 days after the time prescribed by this Rule
4(a) expires, that party shows excusable neglect or good
cause.
(B) A motion filed before the expiration of the time
prescribed in Rule 4(a)(1) or (3) may be ex parte unless the
court requires otherwise. If the motion is filed after the
expiration of the prescribed time, notice must be given to the
other parties in accordance with local rules.
(C) No extension under this Rule 4(a)(5) may exceed 30 days
after the prescribed time or 10 days after the date when the
order granting the motion is entered, whichever is later.
(6) Reopening the Time to File an Appeal. The district court
may reopen the time to file an appeal for a period of 14 days
after the date when its order to reopen is entered, but only if
all the following conditions are satisfied:
(A) the motion is filed within 180 days after the judgment or
order is entered or within 7 days after the moving party
receives notice of the entry, whichever is earlier;
(B) the court finds that the moving party was entitled to
notice of the entry of the judgment or order sought to be
appealed but did not receive the notice from the district court
or any party within 21 days after entry; and
(C) the court finds that no party would be prejudiced.
(7) Entry Defined.
(A) A judgment or order is entered for purposes of this Rule
4(a):
(i) if Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 58(a)(1) does not
require a separate document, when the judgment or order is
entered in the civil docket under Federal Rule of Civil
Procedure 79(a); or
(ii) if Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 58(a)(1) requires a
separate document, when the judgment or order is entered in
the civil docket under Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 79(a)
and when the earlier of these events occurs:
-- the judgment or order is set forth on a separate
document, or
-- 150 days have run from entry of the judgment or order
in the civil docket under Federal Rule of Civil Procedure
79(a).
(B) A failure to set forth a judgment or order on a separate
document when required by Federal Rule of Civil Procedure
58(a)(1) does not affect the validity of an appeal from that
judgment or order.
(b) Appeal in a Criminal Case.
(1) Time for Filing a Notice of Appeal.
(A) In a criminal case, a defendant's notice of appeal must
be filed in the district court within 10 days after the later
of:
(i) the entry of either the judgment or the order being
appealed; or
(ii) the filing of the government's notice of appeal.
(B) When the government is entitled to appeal, its notice of
appeal must be filed in the district court within 30 days after
the later of:
(i) the entry of the judgment or order being appealed; or
(ii) the filing of a notice of appeal by any defendant.
(2) Filing Before Entry of Judgment. A notice of appeal filed
after the court announces a decision, sentence, or order - but
before the entry of the judgment or order - is treated as filed
on the date of and after the entry.
(3) Effect of a Motion on a Notice of Appeal.
(A) If a defendant timely makes any of the following motions
under the Federal Rules of Criminal Procedure, the notice of
appeal from a judgment of conviction must be filed within 10
days after the entry of the order disposing of the last such
remaining motion, or within 10 days after the entry of the
judgment of conviction, whichever period ends later. This
provision applies to a timely motion:
(i) for judgment of acquittal under Rule 29;
(ii) for a new trial under Rule 33, but if based on newly
discovered evidence, only if the motion is made no later than
10 days after the entry of the judgment; or
(iii) for arrest of judgment under Rule 34.
(B) A notice of appeal filed after the court announces a
decision, sentence, or order - but before it disposes of any of
the motions referred to in Rule 4(b)(3)(A) - becomes effective
upon the later of the following:
(i) the entry of the order disposing of the last such
remaining motion; or
(ii) the entry of the judgment of conviction.
(C) A valid notice of appeal is effective - without amendment
- to appeal from an order disposing of any of the motions
referred to in Rule 4(b)(3)(A).
(4) Motion for Extension of Time. Upon a finding of excusable
neglect or good cause, the district court may - before or after
the time has expired, with or without motion and notice - extend
the time to file a notice of appeal for a period not to exceed 30
days from the expiration of the time otherwise prescribed by this
Rule 4(b).
(5) Jurisdiction. The filing of a notice of appeal under this
Rule 4(b) does not divest a district court of jurisdiction to
correct a sentence under Federal Rule of Criminal Procedure
35(a), nor does the filing of a motion under 35(a) affect the
validity of a notice of appeal filed before entry of the order
disposing of the motion. The filing of a motion under Federal
Rule of Criminal Procedure 35(a) does not suspend the time for
filing a notice of appeal from a judgment of conviction.
(6) Entry Defined. A judgment or order is entered for purposes
of this Rule 4(b) when it is entered on the criminal docket.
(c) Appeal by an Inmate Confined in an Institution.
(1) If an inmate confined in an institution files a notice of
appeal in either a civil or a criminal case, the notice is timely
if it is deposited in the institution's internal mail system on
or before the last day for filing. If an institution has a system
designed for legal mail, the inmate must use that system to
receive the benefit of this rule. Timely filing may be shown by a
declaration in compliance with 28 U.S.C. Sec. 1746 or by a
notarized statement, either of which must set forth the date of
deposit and state that first-class postage has been prepaid.
(2) If an inmate files the first notice of appeal in a civil
case under this Rule 4(c), the 14-day period provided in Rule
4(a)(3) for another party to file a notice of appeal runs from
the date when the district court dockets the first notice.
(3) When a defendant in a criminal case files a notice of
appeal under this Rule 4(c), the 30-day period for the government
to file its notice of appeal runs from the entry of the judgment
or order appealed from or from the district court's docketing of
the defendant's notice of appeal, whichever is later.
(d) Mistaken Filing in the Court of Appeals. If a notice of
appeal in either a civil or a criminal case is mistakenly filed in
the court of appeals, the clerk of that court must note on the
notice the date when it was received and send it to the district
clerk. The notice is then considered filed in the district court on
the date so noted.
-SOURCE-
(As amended Apr. 30, 1979, eff. Aug. 1, 1979; Nov. 18, 1988, Pub.
L. 100-690, title VII, Sec. 7111, 102 Stat. 4419; Apr. 30, 1991,
eff. Dec. 1, 1991; Apr. 22, 1993, eff. Dec. 1, 1993; Apr. 27, 1995,
eff. Dec. 1, 1995; Apr. 24, 1998, eff. Dec. 1, 1998; Apr. 29, 2002,
eff. Dec. 1, 2002.)
-MISC1-
NOTES OF ADVISORY COMMITTEE ON RULES - 1967
Subdivision (a). This subdivision is derived from FRCP 73(a)
without any change of substance. The requirement that a request for
an extension of time for filing the notice of appeal made after
expiration of the time be made by motion and on notice codifies the
result reached under the present provisions of FRCP 73(a) and 6(b).
North Umberland Mining Co. v. Standard Accident Ins. Co., 193 F.2d
951 (9th Cir., 1952); Cohen v. Plateau Natural Gas Co., 303 F.2d
273 (10th Cir., 1962); Plant Economy, Inc. v. Mirror Insulation
Co., 308 F.2d 275 (3d Cir., 1962).
Since this subdivision governs appeals in all civil cases, it
supersedes the provisions of section 25 of the Bankruptcy Act (11
U.S.C. Sec. 48). Except in cases to which the United States or an
officer or agency thereof is a party, the change is a minor one,
since a successful litigant in a bankruptcy proceeding may, under
section 25, oblige an aggrieved party to appeal within 30 days
after entry of judgment - the time fixed by this subdivision in
cases involving private parties only - by serving him with notice
of entry on the day thereof, and by the terms of section 25 an
aggrieved party must in any event appeal within 40 days after entry
of judgment. No reason appears why the time for appeal in
bankruptcy should not be the same as that in civil cases generally.
Furthermore, section 25 is a potential trap for the uninitiated.
The time for appeal which it provides is not applicable to all
appeals which may fairly be termed appeals in bankruptcy. Section
25 governs only those cases referred to in section 24 as
"proceedings in bankruptcy" and "controversies arising in
proceedings in bankruptcy." Lowenstein v. Reikes, 54 F.2d 481 (2d
Cir., 1931), cert. den., 285 U.S. 539, 52 S.Ct. 311, 76 L.Ed. 932
(1932). The distinction between such cases and other cases which
arise out of bankruptcy is often difficult to determine. See 2
Moore's Collier on Bankruptcy ¶ 24.12 through ¶ 24.36
(1962). As a result it is not always clear whether an appeal is
governed by section 25 or by FRCP 73(a), which is applicable to
such appeals in bankruptcy as are not governed by section 25.
In view of the unification of the civil and admiralty procedure
accomplished by the amendments of the Federal Rules of Civil
Procedure effective July 1, 1966, this subdivision governs appeals
in those civil actions which involve admiralty or maritime claims
and which prior to that date were known as suits in admiralty.
The only other change possibly effected by this subdivision is in
the time for appeal from a decision of a district court on a
petition for impeachment of an award of a board of arbitration
under the Act of May 20, 1926, c. 347, Sec. 9 (44 Stat. 585), 45
U.S.C. Sec. 159. The act provides that a notice of appeal from such
a decision shall be filed within 10 days of the decision. This
singular provision was apparently repealed by the enactment in 1948
of 28 U.S.C. Sec. 2107, which fixed 30 days from the date of entry
of judgment as the time for appeal in all actions of a civil nature
except actions in admiralty or bankruptcy matters or those in which
the United States is a party. But it was not expressly repealed,
and its status is in doubt. See 7 Moore's Federal Practice ¶
73.09[2] (1966). The doubt should be resolved, and no reason
appears why appeals in such cases should not be taken within the
time provided for civil cases generally.
Subdivision (b). This subdivision is derived from FRCrP 37(a)(2)
without change of substance.
NOTES OF ADVISORY COMMITTEE ON RULES - 1979 AMENDMENT
Subdivision (a)(1). The words "(including a civil action which
involves an admiralty or maritime claim and a proceeding in
bankruptcy or a controversy arising therein)," which appear in the
present rule are struck out as unnecessary and perhaps misleading
in suggesting that there may be other categories that are not
either civil or criminal within the meaning of Rule 4(a) and (b).
The phrases "within 30 days of such entry" and "within 60 days of
such entry" have been changed to read "after" instead of "or." The
change is for clarity only, since the word "of" in the present rule
appears to be used to mean "after." Since the proposed amended rule
deals directly with the premature filing of a notice of appeal, it
was thought useful to emphasize the fact that except as provided,
the period during which a notice of appeal may be filed is the 30
days, or 60 days as the case may be, following the entry of the
judgment or order appealed from. See Notes to Rule 4(a)(2) and (4),
below.
Subdivision (a)(2). The proposed amendment to Rule 4(a)(2) would
extend to civil cases the provisions of Rule 4(b), dealing with
criminal cases, designed to avoid the loss of the right to appeal
by filing the notice of appeal prematurely. Despite the absence of
such a provision in Rule 4(a) the courts of appeals quite generally
have held premature appeals effective. See, e. g., Matter of Grand
Jury Empanelled Jan. 21, 1975, 541 F.2d 373 (3d Cir. 1976); Hodge
v. Hodge, 507 F.2d 87 (3d Cir. 1976); Song Jook Suh v. Rosenberg,
437 F.2d 1098 (9th Cir. 1971); Ruby v. Secretary of the Navy, 365
F.2d 385 (9th Cir. 1966); Firchau v. Diamond Nat'l Corp., 345 F.2d
469 (9th Cir. 1965).
The proposed amended rule would recognize this practice but make
an exception in cases in which a post trial motion has destroyed
the finality of the judgment. See Note to Rule 4(a)(4) below.
Subdivision (a)(4). The proposed amendment would make it clear
that after the filing of the specified post trial motions, a notice
of appeal should await disposition of the motion. Since the
proposed amendments to Rules 3, 10, and 12 contemplate that
immediately upon the filing of the notice of appeal the fees will
be paid and the case docketed in the court of appeals, and the
steps toward its disposition set in motion, it would be undesirable
to proceed with the appeal while the district court has before it a
motion the granting of which would vacate or alter the judgment
appealed from. See, e. g., Kieth v. Newcourt, 530 F.2d 826 (8th
Cir. 1976). Under the present rule, since docketing may not take
place until the record is transmitted, premature filing is much
less likely to involve waste effort. See, e. g., Stokes v. Peyton's
Inc., 508 F.2d 1287 (5th Cir. 1975). Further, since a notice of
appeal filed before the disposition of a post trial motion, even if
it were treated as valid for purposes of jurisdiction, would not
embrace objections to the denial of the motion, it is obviously
preferable to postpone the notice of appeal until after the motion
is disposed of.
The present rule, since it provides for the "termination" of the
"running" of the appeal time, is ambiguous in its application to a
notice of appeal filed prior to a post trial motion filed within
the 10 day limit. The amendment would make it clear that in such
circumstances the appellant should not proceed with the appeal
during pendency of the motion but should file a new notice of
appeal after the motion is disposed of.
Subdivision (a)(5). Under the present rule it is provided that
upon a showing of excusable neglect the district court at any time
may extend the time for the filing of a notice of appeal for a
period not to exceed 30 days from the expiration of the time
otherwise prescribed by the rule, but that if the application is
made after the original time has run, the order may be made only on
motion with such notice as the court deems appropriate.
A literal reading of this provision would require that the
extension be ordered and the notice of appeal filed within the 30
day period, but despite the surface clarity of the rule, it has
produced considerable confusion. See the discussion by Judge
Friendly in In re Orbitek, 520 F.2d 358 (2d Cir. 1975). The
proposed amendment would make it clear that a motion to extend the
time must be filed no later than 30 days after the expiration of
the original appeal time, and that if the motion is timely filed
the district court may act upon the motion at a later date, and may
extend the time not in excess of 10 days measured from the date on
which the order granting the motion is entered.
Under the present rule there is a possible implication that prior
to the time the initial appeal time has run, the district court may
extend the time on the basis of an informal application. The
amendment would require that the application must be made by
motion, though the motion may be made ex parte. After the
expiration of the initial time a motion for the extension of the
time must be made in compliance with the F.R.C.P. and local rules
of the district court. See Note to proposed amended Rule 1, supra.
And see Rules 6(d), 7(b) of the F.R.C.P.
The proposed amended rule expands to some extent the standard for
the grant of an extension of time. The present rule requires a
"showing of excusable neglect." While this was an appropriate
standard in cases in which the motion is made after the time for
filing the notice of appeal has run, and remains so, it has never
fit exactly the situation in which the appellant seeks an extension
before the expiration of the initial time. In such a case "good
cause," which is the standard that is applied in the granting of
other extensions of time under Rule 26(b) seems to be more
appropriate.
Subdivision (a)(6). The proposed amendment would call attention
to the requirement of Rule 58 of the F.R.C.P. that the judgment
constitute a separate document. See United States v. Indrelunas,
411 U.S. 216 (1973). When a notice of appeal is filed, the clerk
should ascertain whether any judgment designated therein has been
entered in compliance with Rules 58 and 79(a) and if not, so advise
all parties and the district judge. While the requirement of Rule
48 is not jurisdictional (see Bankers Trust Co. v. Mallis, 431 U.S.
928 (1977)), compliance is important since the time for the filing
of a notice of appeal by other parties is measured by the time at
which the judgment is properly entered.
NOTES OF ADVISORY COMMITTEE ON RULES - 1991 AMENDMENT
The amendment provides a limited opportunity for relief in
circumstances where the notice of entry of a judgment or order,
required to be mailed by the clerk of the district court pursuant
to Rule 77(d) of the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure, is either
not received by a party or is received so late as to impair the
opportunity to file a timely notice of appeal. The amendment adds a
new subdivision (6) allowing a district court to reopen for a brief
period the time for appeal upon a finding that notice of entry of a
judgment or order was not received from the clerk or a party within
21 days of its entry and that no party would be prejudiced. By
"prejudice" the Committee means some adverse consequence other than
the cost of having to oppose the appeal and encounter the risk of
reversal, consequences that are present in every appeal. Prejudice
might arise, for example, if the appellee had taken some action in
reliance on the expiration of the normal time period for filing a
notice of appeal.
Reopening may be ordered only upon a motion filed within 180 days
of the entry of a judgment or order or within 7 days of receipt of
notice of such entry, whichever is earlier. This provision
establishes an outer time limit of 180 days for a party who fails
to receive timely notice of entry of a judgment to seek additional
time to appeal and enables any winning party to shorten the 180-day
period by sending (and establishing proof of receipt of) its own
notice of entry of a judgment, as authorized by Fed. R. Civ. P.
77(d). Winning parties are encouraged to send their own notice in
order to lessen the chance that a judge will accept a claim of
non-receipt in the face of evidence that notices were sent by both
the clerk and the winning party. Receipt of a winning party's
notice will shorten only the time for reopening the time for appeal
under this subdivision, leaving the normal time periods for appeal
unaffected.
If the motion is granted, the district court may reopen the time
for filing a notice of appeal only for a period of 14 days from the
date of entry of the order reopening the time for appeal.
NOTES OF ADVISORY COMMITTEE ON RULES - 1993 AMENDMENT
Note to Paragraph (a)(1). The amendment is intended to alert
readers to the fact that paragraph (a)(4) extends the time for
filing an appeal when certain posttrial motions are filed. The
Committee hopes that awareness of the provisions of paragraph
(a)(4) will prevent the filing of a notice of appeal when a
posttrial tolling motion is pending.
Note to Paragraph (a)(2). The amendment treats a notice of appeal
filed after the announcement of a decision or order, but before its
formal entry, as if the notice had been filed after entry. The
amendment deletes the language that made paragraph (a)(2)
inapplicable to a notice of appeal filed after announcement of the
disposition of a posttrial motion enumerated in paragraph (a)(4)
but before the entry of the order, see Acosta v. Louisiana Dep't of
Health & Human Resources, 478 U.S. 251 (1986) (per curiam); Alerte
v. McGinnis, 898 F.2d 69 (7th Cir. 1990). Because the amendment of
paragraph (a)(4) recognizes all notices of appeal filed after
announcement or entry of judgment - even those that are filed while
the posttrial motions enumerated in paragraph (a)(4) are pending -
the amendment of this paragraph is consistent with the amendment of
paragraph (a)(4).
Note to Paragraph (a)(3). The amendment is technical in nature;
no substantive change is intended.
Note to Paragraph (a)(4). The 1979 amendment of this paragraph
created a trap for an unsuspecting litigant who files a notice of
appeal before a posttrial motion, or while a posttrial motion is
pending. The 1979 amendment requires a party to file a new notice
of appeal after the motion's disposition. Unless a new notice is
filed, the court of appeals lacks jurisdiction to hear the appeal.
Griggs v. Provident Consumer Discount Co., 459 U.S. 56 (1982). Many
litigants, especially pro se litigants, fail to file the second
notice of appeal, and several courts have expressed dissatisfaction
with the rule. See, e.g., Averhart v. Arrendondo, 773 F.2d 919 (7th
Cir. 1985); Harcon Barge Co. v. D & G Boat Rentals, Inc., 746 F.2d
278 (5th Cir. 1984), cert. denied, 479 U.S. 930 (1986).
The amendment provides that a notice of appeal filed before the
disposition of a specified posttrial motion will become effective
upon disposition of the motion. A notice filed before the filing of
one of the specified motions or after the filing of a motion but
before disposition of the motion is, in effect, suspended until the
motion is disposed of, whereupon, the previously filed notice
effectively places jurisdiction in the court of appeals.
Because a notice of appeal will ripen into an effective appeal
upon disposition of a posttrial motion, in some instances there
will be an appeal from a judgment that has been altered
substantially because the motion was granted in whole or in part.
Many such appeals will be dismissed for want of prosecution when
the appellant fails to meet the briefing schedule. But, the
appellee may also move to strike the appeal. When responding to
such a motion, the appellant would have an opportunity to state
that, even though some relief sought in a posttrial motion was
granted, the appellant still plans to pursue the appeal. Because
the appellant's response would provide the appellee with sufficient
notice of the appellant's intentions, the Committee does not
believe that an additional notice of appeal is needed.
The amendment provides that a notice of appeal filed before the
disposition of a posttrial tolling motion is sufficient to bring
the underlying case, as well as any orders specified in the
original notice, to the court of appeals. If the judgment is
altered upon disposition of a posttrial motion, however, and if a
party wishes to appeal from the disposition of the motion, the
party must amend the notice to so indicate. When a party files an
amended notice, no additional fees are required because the notice
is an amendment of the original and not a new notice of appeal.
Paragraph (a)(4) is also amended to include, among motions that
extend the time for filing a notice of appeal, a Rule 60 motion
that is served within 10 days after entry of judgment. This
eliminates the difficulty of determining whether a posttrial motion
made within 10 days after entry of a judgment is a Rule 59(e)
motion, which tolls the time for filing an appeal, or a Rule 60
motion, which historically has not tolled the time. The amendment
comports with the practice in several circuits of treating all
motions to alter or amend judgments that are made within 10 days
after entry of judgment as Rule 59(e) motions for purposes of Rule
4(a)(4). See, e.g., Finch v. City of Vernon, 845 F.2d 256 (11th
Cir. 1988); Rados v. Celotex Corp., 809 F.2d 170 (2d Cir. 1986);
Skagerberg v. Oklahoma, 797 F.2d 881 (10th Cir. 1986). To conform
to a recent Supreme Court decision, however - Budinich v. Becton
Dickinson and Co., 486 U.S. 196 (1988) - the amendment excludes
motions for attorney's fees from the class of motions that extend
the filing time unless a district court, acting under Rule 58,
enters an order extending the time for appeal. This amendment is to
be read in conjunction with the amendment of Fed. R. Civ. P. 58.
Note to subdivision (b). The amendment grammatically restructures
the portion of this subdivision that lists the types of motions
that toll the time for filing an appeal. This restructuring is
intended to make the rule easier to read. No substantive change is
intended other than to add a motion for judgment of acquittal under
Criminal Rule 29 to the list of tolling motions. Such a motion is
the equivalent of a Fed. R. Civ. P. 50(b) motion for judgment
notwithstanding the verdict, which tolls the running of time for an
appeal in a civil case.
The proposed amendment also eliminates an ambiguity from the
third sentence of this subdivision. Prior to this amendment, the
third sentence provided that if one of the specified motions was
filed, the time for filing an appeal would run from the entry of an
order denying the motion. That sentence, like the parallel
provision in Rule 4(a)(4), was intended to toll the running of time
for appeal if one of the posttrial motions is timely filed. In a
criminal case, however, the time for filing the motions runs not
from entry of judgment (as it does in civil cases), but from the
verdict or finding of guilt. Thus, in a criminal case, a posttrial
motion may be disposed of more than 10 days before sentence is
imposed, i.e. before the entry of judgment. United States v.
Hashagen, 816 F.2d 899, 902 n.5 (3d Cir. 1987). To make it clear
that a notice of appeal need not be filed before entry of judgment,
the amendment states that an appeal may be taken within 10 days
after the entry of an order disposing of the motion, or within 10
days after the entry of judgment, whichever is later. The amendment
also changes the language in the third sentence providing that an
appeal may be taken within 10 days after the entry of an order
denying the motion; the amendment says instead that an appeal may
be taken within 10 days after the entry of an order disposing of
the last such motion outstanding. (Emphasis added) The change
recognizes that there may be multiple posttrial motions filed and
that, although one or more motions may be granted in whole or in
part, a defendant may still wish to pursue an appeal.
The amendment also states that a notice of appeal filed before
the disposition of any of the posttrial tolling motions becomes
effective upon disposition of the motions. In most circuits this
language simply restates the current practice. See United States v.
Cortes, 895 F.2d 1245 (9th Cir.), cert. denied, 495 U.S. 939
(1990). Two circuits, however, have questioned that practice in
light of the language of the rule, see United States v. Gargano,
826 F.2d 610 (7th Cir. 1987), and United States v. Jones, 669 F.2d
559 (8th Cir. 1982), and the Committee wishes to clarify the rule.
The amendment is consistent with the proposed amendment of Rule
4(a)(4).
Subdivision (b) is further amended in light of new Fed. R. Crim.
P. 35(c), which authorizes a sentencing court to correct any
arithmetical, technical, or other clear errors in sentencing within
7 days after imposing the sentence. The Committee believes that a
sentencing court should be able to act under Criminal Rule 35(c)
even if a notice of appeal has already been filed; and that a
notice of appeal should not be affected by the filing of a Rule
35(c) motion or by correction of a sentence under Rule 35(c).
Note to subdivision (c). In Houston v. Lack, 487 U.S. 266 (1988),
the Supreme Court held that a pro se prisoner's notice of appeal is
"filed" at the moment of delivery to prison authorities for
forwarding to the district court. The amendment reflects that
decision. The language of the amendment is similar to that in
Supreme Court Rule 29.2.
Permitting an inmate to file a notice of appeal by depositing it
in an institutional mail system requires adjustment of the rules
governing the filing of cross-appeals. In a civil case, the time
for filing a cross-appeal ordinarily runs from the date when the
first notice of appeal is filed. If an inmate's notice of appeal is
filed by depositing it in an institution's mail system, it is
possible that the notice of appeal will not arrive in the district
court until several days after the "filing" date and perhaps even
after the time for filing a cross-appeal has expired. To avoid that
problem, subdivision (c) provides that in a civil case when an
institutionalized person files a notice of appeal by depositing it
in the institution's mail system, the time for filing a
cross-appeal runs from the district court's receipt of the notice.
The amendment makes a parallel change regarding the time for the
government to appeal in a criminal case.
NOTES OF ADVISORY COMMITTEE ON RULES - 1995 AMENDMENT
Subdivision (a). Fed. R. Civ. P. 50, 52, and 59 were previously
inconsistent with respect to whether certain postjudgment motions
had to be filed or merely served no later than 10 days after entry
of judgment. As a consequence Rule 4(a)(4) spoke of making or
serving such motions rather than filing them. Civil Rules 50, 52,
and 59, are being revised to require filing before the end of the
10-day period. As a consequence, this rule is being amended to
provide that "filing" must occur within the 10 day period in order
to affect the finality of the judgment and extend the period for
filing a notice of appeal.
The Civil Rules require the filing of postjudgment motions "no
later than 10 days after entry of judgment" - rather than "within"
10 days - to include postjudgment motions that are filed before
actual entry of the judgment by the clerk. This rule is amended,
therefore, to use the same terminology.
The rule is further amended to clarify the fact that a party who
wants to obtain review of an alteration or amendment of a judgment
must file a notice of appeal or amend a previously filed notice to
indicate intent to appeal from the altered judgment.
COMMITTEE NOTES ON RULES - 1998 AMENDMENT
The language and organization of the rule are amended to make the
rule more easily understood. In addition to changes made to improve
the understanding, the Advisory Committee has changed language to
make style and terminology consistent throughout the appellate
rules. These changes are intended to be stylistic only; in this
rule, however, substantive changes are made in paragraphs (a)(6)
and (b)(4), and in subdivision (c).
Subdivision (a), paragraph (1). Although the Advisory Committee
does not intend to make any substantive changes in this paragraph,
cross-references to Rules 4(a)(1)(B) and 4(c) have been added to
subparagraph (a)(1)(A).
Subdivision (a), paragraph (4). Item (vi) in subparagraph (A) of
Rule 4(a)(4) provides that filing a motion for relief under Fed. R.
Civ. P. 60 will extend the time for filing a notice of appeal if
the Rule 60 motion is filed no later than 10 days after judgment is
entered. Again, the Advisory Committee does not intend to make any
substantive change in this paragraph. But because Fed. R. Civ. P.
6(a) and Fed. R. App. P. 26(a) have different methods for computing
time, one might be uncertain whether the 10-day period referred to
in Rule 4(a)(4) is computed using Civil Rule 6(a) or Appellate Rule
26(a). Because the Rule 60 motion is filed in the district court,
and because Fed. R. App. P. 1(a)(2) says that when the appellate
rules provide for filing a motion in the district court, "the
procedure must comply with the practice of the district court," the
rule provides that the 10-day period is computed using Fed. R. Civ.
P. 6(a).
Subdivision (a), paragraph (6). Paragraph (6) permits a district
court to reopen the time for appeal if a party has not received
notice of the entry of judgment and no party would be prejudiced by
the reopening. Before reopening the time for appeal, the existing
rule requires the district court to find that the moving party was
entitled to notice of the entry of judgment and did not receive it
"from the clerk or any party within 21 days of its entry." The
Advisory Committee makes a substantive change. The finding must be
that the movant did not receive notice "from the district court or
any party within 21 days after entry." This change broadens the
type of notice that can preclude reopening the time for appeal. The
existing rule provides that only notice from a party or from the
clerk bars reopening. The new language precludes reopening if the
movant has received notice from "the court."
Subdivision (b). Two substantive changes are made in what will be
paragraph (b)(4). The current rule permits an extension of time to
file a notice of appeal if there is a "showing of excusable
neglect." First, the rule is amended to permit a court to extend
the time for "good cause" as well as for excusable neglect. Rule
4(a) permits extensions for both reasons in civil cases and the
Advisory Committee believes that "good cause" should be sufficient
in criminal cases as well. The amendment does not limit extensions
for good cause to instances in which the motion for extension of
time is filed before the original time has expired. The rule gives
the district court discretion to grant extensions for good cause
whenever the court believes it appropriate to do so provided that
the extended period does not exceed 30 days after the expiration of
the time otherwise prescribed by Rule 4(b). Second, paragraph
(b)(4) is amended to require only a "finding" of excusable neglect
or good cause and not a "showing" of them. Because the rule
authorizes the court to provide an extension without a motion, a
"showing" is obviously not required; a "finding" is sufficient.
Subdivision (c). Substantive amendments are made in this
subdivision. The current rule provides that if an inmate confined
in an institution files a notice of appeal by depositing it in the
institution's internal mail system, the notice is timely filed if
deposited on or before the last day for filing. Some institutions
have special internal mail systems for handling legal mail; such
systems often record the date of deposit of mail by an inmate, the
date of delivery of mail to an inmate, etc. The Advisory Committee
amends the rule to require an inmate to use the system designed for
legal mail, if there is one, in order to receive the benefit of
this subdivision.
When an inmate uses the filing method authorized by subdivision
(c), the current rule provides that the time for other parties to
appeal begins to run from the date the district court "receives"
the inmate's notice of appeal. The rule is amended so that the time
for other parties begins to run when the district court "dockets"
the inmate's appeal. A court may "receive" a paper when its mail is
delivered to it even if the mail is not processed for a day or two,
making the date of receipt uncertain. "Docketing" is an easily
identified event. The change eliminates uncertainty. Paragraph
(c)(3) is further amended to make it clear that the time for the
government to file its appeal runs from the later of the entry of
the judgment or order appealed from or the district court's
docketing of a defendant's notice filed under this paragraph (c).
COMMITTEE NOTES ON RULES - 2002 AMENDMENT
Subdivision (a)(1)(C). The federal courts of appeals have reached
conflicting conclusions about whether an appeal from an order
granting or denying an application for a writ of error coram nobis
is governed by the time limitations of Rule 4(a) (which apply in
civil cases) or by the time limitations of Rule 4(b) (which apply
in criminal cases).Compare United States v. Craig, 907 F.2d 653,
655-57, amended 919 F.2d 57 (7th Cir. 1990); United States v.
Cooper, 876 F.2d 1192, 1193-94 (5th Cir. 1989); and United States
v. Keogh, 391 F.2d 138, 140 (2d Cir. 1968) (applying the time
limitations of Rule 4(a)); with Yasui v. United States, 772 F.2d
1496, 1498-99 (9th Cir. 1985); and United States v. Mills, 430 F.2d
526, 527-28 (8th Cir. 1970) (applying the time limitations of Rule
4(b)). A new part (C) has been added to Rule 4(a)(1) to resolve
this conflict by providing that the time limitations of Rule 4(a)
will apply.
Subsequent to the enactment of Fed. R. Civ. P. 60(b) and 28
U.S.C. Sec. 2255, the Supreme Court has recognized the continued
availability of a writ of error coram nobis in at least one narrow
circumstance. In 1954, the Court permitted a litigant who had been
convicted of a crime, served his full sentence, and been released
from prison, but who was continuing to suffer a legal disability on
account of the conviction, to seek a writ of error coram nobis to
set aside the conviction. United States v. Morgan, 346 U.S. 502
(1954). As the Court recognized, in the Morgan situation an
application for a writ of error coram nobis "is of the same general
character as [a motion] under 28 U.S.C. Sec. 2255." Id. at 506 n.4.
Thus, it seems appropriate that the time limitations of Rule 4(a),
which apply when a district court grants or denies relief under 28
U.S.C. Sec. 2255, should also apply when a district court grants or
denies a writ of error coram nobis. In addition, the strong public
interest in the speedy resolution of criminal appeals that is
reflected in the shortened deadlines of Rule 4(b) is not present in
the Morgan situation, as the party seeking the writ of error coram
nobis has already served his or her full sentence.
Notwithstanding Morgan, it is not clear whether the Supreme Court
continues to believe that the writ of error coram nobis is
available in federal court. In civil cases, the writ has been
expressly abolished by Fed. R. Civ. P. 60(b). In criminal cases,
the Supreme Court has recently stated that it has become "
'difficult to conceive of a situation' " in which the writ " 'would
be necessary or appropriate.' " Carlisle v. United States, 517 U.S.
416, 429 (1996) (quoting United States v. Smith, 331 U.S. 469, 475
n.4 (1947)). The amendment to Rule 4(a)(1) is not intended to
express any view on this issue; rather, it is merely meant to
specify time limitations for appeals.
Rule 4(a)(1)(C) applies only to motions that are in substance,
and not merely in form, applications for writs of error coram
nobis. Litigants may bring and label as applications for a writ of
error coram nobis what are in reality motions for a new trial under
Fed. R. Crim. P. 33 or motions for correction or reduction of a
sentence under Fed. R. Crim. P. 35. In such cases, the time
limitations of Rule 4(b), and not those of Rule 4(a), should be
enforced.
Changes Made After Publication and Comments. No changes were made
to the text of the proposed amendment or to the Committee Note.
Subdivision (a)(4)(A)(vi). Rule 4(a)(4)(A)(vi) has been amended
to remove a parenthetical that directed that the 10-day deadline be
"computed using Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 6(a)." That
parenthetical has become superfluous because Rule 26(a)(2) has been
amended to require that all deadlines under 11 days be calculated
as they are under Fed. R. Civ. P. 6(a).
Changes Made After Publication and Comments. No changes were made
to the text of the proposed amendment or to the Committee Note.
Subdivision (a)(5)(A)(ii). Rule 4(a)(5)(A) permits the district
court to extend the time to file a notice of appeal if two
conditions are met. First, the party seeking the extension must
file its motion no later than 30 days after the expiration of the
time originally prescribed by Rule 4(a). Second, the party seeking
the extension must show either excusable neglect or good cause. The
text of Rule 4(a)(5)(A) does not distinguish between motions filed
prior to the expiration of the original deadline and those filed
after the expiration of the original deadline. Regardless of
whether the motion is filed before or during the 30 days after the
original deadline expires, the district court may grant an
extension if a party shows either excusable neglect or good cause.
Despite the text of Rule 4(a)(5)(A), most of the courts of
appeals have held that the good cause standard applies only to
motions brought prior to the expiration of the original deadline
and that the excusable neglect standard applies only to motions
brought during the 30 days following the expiration of the original
deadline. See Pontarelli v. Stone, 930 F.2d 104, 109-10 (1st Cir.
1991) (collecting cases from the Second, Fifth, Sixth, Seventh,
Eighth, Ninth, and Eleventh Circuits). These courts have relied
heavily upon the Advisory Committee Note to the 1979 amendment to
Rule 4(a)(5). But the Advisory Committee Note refers to a draft of
the 1979 amendment that was ultimately rejected. The rejected draft
directed that the good cause standard apply only to motions filed
prior to the expiration of the original deadline. Rule 4(a)(5), as
actually amended, did not. See 16A Charles Alan Wright, et al.,
Federal Practice and Procedure Sec. 3950.3, at 148-49 (2d ed.
1996).
The failure of the courts of appeals to apply Rule 4(a)(5)(A) as
written has also created tension between that rule and Rule
4(b)(4). As amended in 1998, Rule 4(b)(4) permits the district
court to extend the time for filing a notice of appeal in a
criminal case for an additional 30 days upon a finding of excusable
neglect or good cause. Both Rule 4(b)(4) and the Advisory Committee
Note to the 1998 amendment make it clear that an extension can be
granted for either excusable neglect or good cause, regardless of
whether a motion for an extension is filed before or during the 30
days following the expiration of the original deadline.
Rule 4(a)(5)(A)(ii) has been amended to correct this
misunderstanding and to bring the rule in harmony in this respect
with Rule 4(b)(4). A motion for an extension filed prior to the
expiration of the original deadline may be granted if the movant
shows either excusable neglect or good cause. Likewise, a motion
for an extension filed during the 30 days following the expiration
of the original deadline may be granted if the movant shows either
excusable neglect or good cause.
The good cause and excusable neglect standards have "different
domains." Lorenzen v. Employees Retirement Plan, 896 F.2d 228, 232
(7th Cir. 1990). They are not interchangeable, and one is not
inclusive of the other. The excusable neglect standard applies in
situations in which there is fault; in such situations, the need
for an extension is usually occasioned by something within the
control of the movant. The good cause standard applies in
situations in which there is no fault - excusable or otherwise. In
such situations, the need for an extension is usually occasioned by
something that is not within the control of the movant.
Thus, the good cause standard can apply to motions brought during
the 30 days following the expiration of the original deadline. If,
for example, the Postal Service fails to deliver a notice of
appeal, a movant might have good cause to seek a post-expiration
extension. It may be unfair to make such a movant prove that its
"neglect" was excusable, given that the movant may not have been
neglectful at all. Similarly, the excusable neglect standard can
apply to motions brought prior to the expiration of the original
deadline. For example, a movant may bring a pre-expiration motion
for an extension of time when an error committed by the movant
makes it unlikely that the movant will be able to meet the original
deadline.
Changes Made After Publication and Comments. No changes were made
to the text of the proposed amendment. The stylistic changes to the
Committee Note suggested by Judge Newman were adopted. In addition,
two paragraphs were added at the end of the Committee Note to
clarify the difference between the good cause and excusable neglect
standards.
Subdivision (a)(7). Several circuit splits have arisen out of
uncertainties about how Rule 4(a)(7)'s definition of when a
judgment or order is "entered" interacts with the requirement in
Fed. R. Civ. P. 58 that, to be "effective," a judgment must be set
forth on a separate document. Rule 4(a)(7) and Fed. R. Civ. P. 58
have been amended to resolve those splits.
1. The first circuit split addressed by the amendments to Rule
4(a)(7) and Fed. R. Civ. P. 58 concerns the extent to which orders
that dispose of post-judgment motions must be set forth on separate
documents. Under Rule 4(a)(4)(A), the filing of certain
post-judgment motions tolls the time to appeal the underlying
judgment until the "entry" of the order disposing of the last such
remaining motion. Courts have disagreed about whether such an order
must be set forth on a separate document before it is treated as
"entered." This disagreement reflects a broader dispute among
courts about whether Rule 4(a)(7) independently imposes a separate
document requirement (a requirement that is distinct from the
separate document requirement that is imposed by the Federal Rules
of Civil Procedure ("FRCP")) or whether Rule 4(a)(7) instead
incorporates the separate document requirement as it exists in the
FRCP. Further complicating the matter, courts in the former "camp"
disagree among themselves about the scope of the separate document
requirement that they interpret Rule 4(a)(7) as imposing, and
courts in the latter "camp" disagree among themselves about the
scope of the separate document requirement imposed by the FRCP.
Rule 4(a)(7) has been amended to make clear that it simply
incorporates the separate document requirement as it exists in Fed.
R. Civ. P. 58. If Fed. R. Civ. P. 58 does not require that a
judgment or order be set forth on a separate document, then neither
does Rule 4(a)(7); the judgment or order will be deemed entered for
purposes of Rule 4(a) when it is entered in the civil docket. If
Fed. R. Civ. P. 58 requires that a judgment or order be set forth
on a separate document, then so does Rule 4(a)(7); the judgment or
order will not be deemed entered for purposes of Rule 4(a) until it
is so set forth and entered in the civil docket (with one important
exception, described below).
In conjunction with the amendment to Rule 4(a)(7), Fed. R. Civ.
P. 58 has been amended to provide that orders disposing of the
post-judgment motions listed in new Fed. R. Civ. P. 58(a)(1) (which
post-judgment motions include, but are not limited to, the
post-judgment motions that can toll the time to appeal under Rule
4(a)(4)(A)) do not have to be set forth on separate documents. See
Fed. R. Civ. P. 58(a)(1). Thus, such orders are entered for
purposes of Rule 4(a) when they are entered in the civil docket
pursuant to Fed. R. Civ. P. 79(a). See Rule 4(a)(7)(A)(1).
2. The second circuit split addressed by the amendments to Rule
4(a)(7) and Fed. R. Civ. P. 58 concerns the following question:
When a judgment or order is required to be set forth on a separate
document under Fed. R. Civ. P. 58 but is not, does the time to
appeal the judgment or order - or the time to bring post-judgment
motions, such as a motion for a new trial under Fed. R. Civ. P. 59
- ever begin to run? According to every circuit except the First
Circuit, the answer is "no." The First Circuit alone holds that
parties will be deemed to have waived their right to have a
judgment or order entered on a separate document three months after
the judgment or order is entered in the civil docket. See Fiore v.
Washington County Community Mental Health Ctr., 960 F.2d 229, 236
(1st Cir. 1992) (en banc). Other circuits have rejected this cap as
contrary to the relevant rules. See, e.g., United States v. Haynes,
158 F.3d 1327, 1331 (D.C. Cir. 1998); Hammack v. Baroid Corp., 142
F.3d 266, 269-70 (5th Cir. 1998); Rubin v. Schottenstein, Zox &
Dunn, 110 F.3d 1247, 1253 n.4 (6th Cir. 1997), vacated on other
grounds, 143 F.3d 263 (6th Cir. 1998) (en banc). However, no court
has questioned the wisdom of imposing such a cap as a matter of
policy.
Both Rule 4(a)(7)(A) and Fed. R. Civ. P. 58 have been amended to
impose such a cap. Under the amendments, a judgment or order is
generally treated as entered when it is entered in the civil docket
pursuant to Fed. R. Civ. P. 79(a). There is one exception: When
Fed. R. Civ. P. 58(a)(1) requires the judgment or order to be set
forth on a separate document, that judgment or order is not treated
as entered until it is set forth on a separate document (in
addition to being entered in the civil docket) or until the
expiration of 150 days after its entry in the civil docket,
whichever occurs first. This cap will ensure that parties will not
be given forever to appeal (or to bring a post-judgment motion)
when a court fails to set forth a judgment or order on a separate
document in violation of Fed. R. Civ. P. 58(a)(1).
3. The third circuit split - this split addressed only by the
amendment to Rule 4(a)(7) - concerns whether the appellant may
waive the separate document requirement over the objection of the
appellee. In Bankers Trust Co. v. Mallis, 435 U.S. 381, 387 (1978)
(per curiam), the Supreme Court held that the "parties to an appeal
may waive the separate-judgment requirement of Rule 58."
Specifically, the Supreme Court held that when a district court
enters an order and "clearly evidence[s] its intent that the . . .
order . . . represent[s] the final decision in the case," the order
is a "final decision" for purposes of 28 U.S.C. Sec. 1291, even if
the order has not been set forth on a separate document for
purposes of Fed. R. Civ. P. 58. Id. Thus, the parties can choose to
appeal without waiting for the order to be set forth on a separate
document.
Courts have disagreed about whether the consent of all parties is
necessary to waive the separate document requirement. Some circuits
permit appellees to object to attempted Mallis waivers and to force
appellants to return to the trial court, request that judgment be
set forth on a separate document, and appeal a second time. See,
e.g., Selletti v. Carey, 173 F.3d 104, 109-10 (2d Cir. 1999);
Williams v. Borg, 139 F.3d 737, 739-40 (9th Cir. 1998); Silver Star
Enters., Inc. v. M/V Saramacca, 19 F.3d 1008, 1013 (5th Cir. 1994).
Other courts disagree and permit Mallis waivers even if the
appellee objects. See, e.g., Haynes, 158 F.3d at 1331; Miller v.
Artistic Cleaners, 153 F.3d 781, 783-84 (7th Cir. 1998);
Alvord-Polk, Inc. v. F. Schumacher & Co., 37 F.3d 996, 1006 n.8 (3d
Cir. 1994).
New Rule 4(a)(7)(B) is intended both to codify the Supreme
Court's holding in Mallis and to make clear that the decision
whether to waive the requirement that the judgment or order be set
forth on a separate document is the appellant's alone. It is, after
all, the appellant who needs a clear signal as to when the time to
file a notice of appeal has begun to run. If the appellant chooses
to bring an appeal without waiting for the judgment or order to be
set forth on a separate document, then there is no reason why the
appellee should be able to object. All that would result from
honoring the appellee's objection would be delay.
4. The final circuit split addressed by the amendment to Rule
4(a)(7) concerns the question whether an appellant who chooses to
waive the separate document requirement must appeal within 30 days
(60 days if the government is a party) from the entry in the civil
docket of the judgment or order that should have been set forth on
a separate document but was not. In Townsend v. Lucas, 745 F.2d 933
(5th Cir. 1984), the district court dismissed a 28 U.S.C. Sec. 2254
action on May 6, 1983, but failed to set forth the judgment on a
separate document. The plaintiff appealed on January 10, 1984. The
Fifth Circuit dismissed the appeal, reasoning that, if the
plaintiff waived the separate document requirement, then his appeal
would be from the May 6 order, and if his appeal was from the May 6
order, then it was untimely under Rule 4(a)(1). The Fifth Circuit
stressed that the plaintiff could return to the district court,
move that the judgment be set forth on a separate document, and
appeal from that judgment within 30 days. Id. at 934. Several other
cases have embraced the Townsend approach. See, e.g., Armstrong v.
Ahitow, 36 F.3d 574, 575 (7th Cir. 1994) (per curiam); Hughes v.
Halifax County Sch. Bd., 823 F.2d 832, 835-36 (4th Cir. 1987);
Harris v. McCarthy, 790 F.2d 753, 756 n.1 (9th Cir. 1986).
Those cases are in the distinct minority. There are numerous
cases in which courts have heard appeals that were not filed within
30 days (60 days if the government was a party) from the judgment
or order that should have been set forth on a separate document but
was not. See, e.g., Haynes, 158 F.3d at 1330-31; Clough v. Rush,
959 F.2d 182, 186 (10th Cir. 1992); McCalden v. California Library
Ass'n, 955 F.2d 1214, 1218-19 (9th Cir. 1990). In the view of these
courts, the remand in Townsend was "precisely the purposeless
spinning of wheels abjured by the Court in the [Mallis] case." 15B
Charles Alan Wright et al., Federal Practice and Procedure Sec.
3915, at 259 n.8 (3d ed. 1992).
The Committee agrees with the majority of courts that have
rejected the Townsend approach. In drafting new Rule 4(a)(7)(B),
the Committee has been careful to avoid phrases such as "otherwise
timely appeal" that might imply an endorsement of Townsend.
Changes Made After Publication and Comments. No changes were made
to the text of proposed Rule 4(a)(7)(B) or to the third or fourth
numbered sections of the Committee Note, except that, in several
places, references to a judgment being "entered" on a separate
document were changed to references to a judgment being "set forth"
on a separate document. This was to maintain stylistic consistency.
The appellate rules and the civil rules consistently refer to
"entering" judgments on the civil docket and to "setting forth"
judgments on separate documents.
Two major changes were made to the text of proposed Rule
4(a)(7)(A) - one substantive and one stylistic. The substantive
change was to increase the "cap" from 60 days to 150 days. The
Appellate Rules Committee and the Civil Rules Committee had to
balance two concerns that are implicated whenever a court fails to
enter its final decision on a separate document. On the one hand,
potential appellants need a clear signal that the time to appeal
has begun to run, so that they do not unknowingly forfeit their
rights. On the other hand, the time to appeal cannot be allowed to
run forever. A party who receives no notice whatsoever of a
judgment has only 180 days to move to reopen the time to appeal
from that judgment. See Rule 4(a)(6)(A). It hardly seems fair to
give a party who does receive notice of a judgment an unlimited
amount of time to appeal, merely because that judgment was not set
forth on a separate piece of paper. Potential appellees and the
judicial system need some limit on the time within which appeals
can be brought.
The 150-day cap properly balances these two concerns. When an
order is not set forth on a separate document, what signals
litigants that the order is final and appealable is a lack of
further activity from the court. A 60-day period of inactivity is
not sufficiently rare to signal to litigants that the court has
entered its last order. By contrast, 150 days of inactivity is much
less common and thus more clearly signals to litigants that the
court is done with their case.
The major stylistic change to Rule 4(a)(7) requires some
explanation. In the published draft, proposed Rule 4(a)(7)(A)
provided that "[a] judgment or order is entered for purposes of
this Rule 4(a) when it is entered for purposes of Rule 58(b) of the
Federal Rules of Civil Procedure." In other words, Rule 4(a)(7)(A)
told readers to look to FRCP 58(b) to ascertain when a judgment is
entered for purposes of starting the running of time to appeal.
Sending appellate lawyers to the civil rules to discover when time
began to run for purposes of the appellate rules was itself
somewhat awkward, but it was made more confusing by the fact that,
when readers went to proposed FRCP 58(b), they found this
introductory clause: "Judgment is entered for purposes of Rules 50,
52, 54(d)(2)(B), 59, 60, and 62 when . . ."
This introductory clause was confusing for both appellate lawyers
and trial lawyers. It was confusing for appellate lawyers because
Rule 4(a)(7) informed them that FRCP 58(b) would tell them when the
time begins to run for purposes of the appellate rules, but when
they got to FRCP 58(b) they found a rule that, by its terms,
dictated only when the time begins to run for purposes of certain
civil rules. The introductory clause was confusing for trial
lawyers because FRCP 58(b) described when judgment is entered for
some purposes under the civil rules, but then was completely silent
about when judgment is entered for other purposes.
To avoid this confusion, the Civil Rules Committee, on the
recommendation of the Appellate Rules Committee, changed the
introductory clause in FRCP 58(b) to read simply: "Judgment is
entered for purposes of these Rules when . . . ." In addition, Rule
4(a)(7)(A) was redrafted [A redraft of Rule 4(a)(7) was faxed to
members of the Appellate Rules Committee two weeks after our
meeting in New Orleans. The Committee consented to the redraft
without objection.] so that the triggering events for the running
of the time to appeal (entry in the civil docket, and being set
forth on a separate document or passage of 150 days) were
incorporated directly into Rule 4(a)(7), rather than indirectly
through a reference to FRCP 58(b). This eliminates the need for
appellate lawyers to examine Rule 58(b) and any chance that Rule
58(b)'s introductory clause (even as modified) might confuse them.
We do not believe that republication of Rule 4(a)(7) or FRCP 58
is necessary. In substance, rewritten Rule 4(a)(7)(A) and FRCP
58(b) operate identically to the published versions, except that
the 60-day cap has been replaced with a 150-day cap - a change that
was suggested by some of the commentators and that makes the cap
more forgiving.
Subdivision (b)(5). Federal Rule of Criminal Procedure 35(a)
permits a district court, acting within 7 days after the imposition
of sentence, to correct an erroneous sentence in a criminal case.
Some courts have held that the filing of a motion for correction of
a sentence suspends the time for filing a notice of appeal from the
judgment of conviction. See, e.g., United States v. Carmouche, 138
F.3d 1014, 1016 (5th Cir. 1998) (per curiam); United States v.
Morillo, 8 F.3d 864, 869 (1st Cir. 1993). Those courts establish
conflicting timetables for appealing a judgment of conviction after
the filing of a motion to correct a sentence. In the First Circuit,
the time to appeal is suspended only for the period provided by
Fed. R. Crim. P. 35(a) for the district court to correct a
sentence; the time to appeal begins to run again once 7 days have
passed after sentencing, even if the motion is still pending. By
contrast, in the Fifth Circuit, the time to appeal does not begin
to run again until the district court actually issues an order
disposing of the motion.
Rule 4(b)(5) has been amended to eliminate the inconsistency
concerning the effect of a motion to correct a sentence on the time
for filing a notice of appeal. The amended rule makes clear that
the time to appeal continues to run, even if a motion to correct a
sentence is filed. The amendment is consistent with Rule
4(b)(3)(A), which lists the motions that toll the time to appeal,
and notably omits any mention of a Fed. R. Crim. P. 35(a) motion.
The amendment also should promote certainty and minimize the
likelihood of confusion concerning the time to appeal a judgment of
conviction.
If a district court corrects a sentence pursuant to Fed. R. Crim.
P. 35(a), the time for filing a notice of appeal of the corrected
sentence under Rule 4(b)(1) would begin to run when the court
enters a new judgment reflecting the corrected sentence.
Changes Made After Publication and Comments. The reference to
Federal Rule of Criminal Procedure 35(c) was changed to Rule 35(a)
to reflect the pending amendment of Rule 35. The proposed amendment
to Criminal Rule 35, if approved, will take effect at the same time
that the proposed amendment to Appellate Rule 4 will take effect,
if approved.
-REFTEXT-
REFERENCES IN TEXT
The Federal Rules of Civil Procedure, referred to in subd.
(a)(4), (7), are set out in this Appendix.
The Federal Rules of Criminal Procedure, referred to in subd.
(b)(3), (5), are set out in the Appendix to Title 18, Crimes and
Criminal Procedure.
-MISC2-
AMENDMENT BY PUBLIC LAW
1988 - Subd. (b). Pub. L. 100-690 inserted "(i)" and "or (ii) a
notice of appeal by the Government" in first sentence, and "(i)"
and "or (ii) a notice of appeal by any defendant" in fifth
sentence.
-End-
-CITE-
28 USC APPENDIX Rule 5 01/06/03
-EXPCITE-
TITLE 28 - APPENDIX
FEDERAL RULES OF APPELLATE PROCEDURE
TITLE II. APPEAL FROM A JUDGMENT OR ORDER OF A DISTRICT COURT
-HEAD-
Rule 5. Appeal by Permission
-STATUTE-
(a) Petition for Permission to Appeal.
(1) To request permission to appeal when an appeal is within
the court of appeals' discretion, a party must file a petition
for permission to appeal. The petition must be filed with the
circuit clerk with proof of service on all other parties to the
district-court action.
(2) The petition must be filed within the time specified by the
statute or rule authorizing the appeal or, if no such time is
specified, within the time provided by Rule 4(a) for filing a
notice of appeal.
(3) If a party cannot petition for appeal unless the district
court first enters an order granting permission to do so or
stating that the necessary conditions are met, the district court
may amend its order, either on its own or in response to a
party's motion, to include the required permission or statement.
In that event, the time to petition runs from entry of the
amended order.
(b) Contents of the Petition; Answer or Cross-Petition; Oral
Argument.
(1) The petition must include the following:
(A) the facts necessary to understand the question presented;
(B) the question itself;
(C) the relief sought;
(D) the reasons why the appeal should be allowed and is
authorized by a statute or rule; and
(E) an attached copy of:
(i) the order, decree, or judgment complained of and any
related opinion or memorandum, and
(ii) any order stating the district court's permission to
appeal or finding that the necessary conditions are met.
(2) A party may file an answer in opposition or a
cross-petition within 7 days after the petition is served.
(3) The petition and answer will be submitted without oral
argument unless the court of appeals orders otherwise.
(c) Form of Papers; Number of Copies. All papers must conform to
Rule 32(c)(2). Except by the court's permission, a paper must not
exceed 20 pages, exclusive of the disclosure statement, the proof
of service, and the accompanying documents required by Rule
5(b)(1)(E). An original and 3 copies must be filed unless the court
requires a different number by local rule or by order in a
particular case.
(d) Grant of Permission; Fees; Cost Bond; Filing the Record.
(1) Within 10 days after the entry of the order granting
permission to appeal, the appellant must:
(A) pay the district clerk all required fees; and
(B) file a cost bond if required under Rule 7.
(2) A notice of appeal need not be filed. The date when the
order granting permission to appeal is entered serves as the date
of the notice of appeal for calculating time under these rules.
(3) The district clerk must notify the circuit clerk once the
petitioner has paid the fees. Upon receiving this notice, the
circuit clerk must enter the appeal on the docket. The record
must be forwarded and filed in accordance with Rules 11 and
12(c).
-SOURCE-
(As amended Apr. 30, 1979, eff. Aug. 1, 1979; Apr. 29, 1994, eff.
Dec. 1, 1994; Apr. 24, 1998, eff. Dec. 1, 1998; Apr. 29, 2002, eff.
Dec. 1, 2002.)
-MISC1-
NOTES OF ADVISORY COMMITTEE ON RULES - 1967
This rule is derived in the main from Third Circuit Rule 11(2),
which is similar to the rule governing appeals under 28 U.S.C. Sec.
1292(b) in a majority of the circuits. The second sentence of
subdivision (a) resolves a conflict over the question of whether
the district court can amend an order by supplying the statement
required by Sec. 1292(b) at any time after entry of the order, with
the result that the time fixed by the statute commences to run on
the date of entry of the order as amended. Compare Milbert v. Bison
Laboratories, 260 F.2d 431 (3d Cir., 1958) with Sperry Rand
Corporation v. Bell Telephone Laboratories, 272 F.2d (2d Cir.,
1959), Hadjipateras v. Pacifica, S.A., 290 F.2d 697 (5th Cir.,
1961), and Houston Fearless Corporation v. Teter, 313 F.2d 91 (10th
Cir., 1962). The view taken by the Second, Fifth and Tenth Circuits
seems theoretically and practically sound, and the rule adopts it.
Although a majority of the circuits now require the filing of a
notice of appeal following the grant of permission to appeal,
filing of the notice serves no function other than to provide a
time from which the time for transmitting the record and docketing
the appeal begins to run.
NOTES OF ADVISORY COMMITTEE ON RULES - 1979 AMENDMENT
The proposed amendment adapts to the practice in appeals from
interlocutory orders under 28 U.S.C. Sec. 1292(b) the provisions of
proposed Rule 3(e) above, requiring payment of all fees in the
district court upon the filing of the notice of appeal. See Note to
proposed amended Rule 3(e), supra.
NOTES OF ADVISORY COMMITTEE ON RULES - 1994 AMENDMENT
Subdivision (c). The amendment makes it clear that a court may
require a different number of copies either by rule or by order in
an individual case. The number of copies of any document that a
court of appeals needs varies depending upon the way in which the
court conducts business. The internal operation of the courts of
appeals necessarily varies from circuit to circuit because of
differences in the number of judges, the geographic area included
within the circuit, and other such factors. Uniformity could be
achieved only by setting the number of copies artificially high so
that parties in all circuits file enough copies to satisfy the
needs of the court requiring the greatest number. Rather than do
that, the Committee decided to make it clear that local rules may
require a greater or lesser number of copies and that, if the
circumstances of a particular case indicate the need for a
different number of copies in that case, the court may so order.
COMMITTEE NOTES ON RULES - 1998 AMENDMENT
In 1992 Congress added subsection (e) to 28 U.S.C. Sec. 1292.
Subsection (e) says that the Supreme Court has power to prescribe
rules that "provide for an appeal of an interlocutory decision to
the courts of appeals that is not otherwise provided for" in
section 1292. The amendment of Rule 5 was prompted by the
possibility of new rules authorizing additional interlocutory
appeals. Rather than add a separate rule governing each such
appeal, the Committee believes it is preferable to amend Rule 5 so
that is will govern all such appeals.
In addition the Federal Courts Improvement Act of 1996, Pub. L.
104-317, abolished appeals by permission under 28 U.S.C. Sec.
636(c)(5), making Rule 5.1 obsolete.
This new Rule 5 is intended to govern all discretionary appeals
from district-court orders, judgments, or decrees. At this time
that includes interlocutory appeals under 28 U.S.C. Sec. 1292(b),
(c)(1), and (d)(1) & (2). If additional interlocutory appeals are
authorized under Sec. 1292(e), the new Rule is intended to govern
them if the appeals are discretionary.
Subdivision (a). Paragraph (a)(1) says that when granting an
appeal is within a court of appeals' discretion, a party may file a
petition for permission to appeal. The time for filing provision
states only that the petition must be filed within the time
provided in the statute or rule authorizing the appeal or, if no
such time is specified, within the time provided by Rule 4(a) for
filing a notice of appeal.
Section 1292(b), (c), and (d) provide that the petition must be
filed within 10 days after entry of the order containing the
statement prescribed in the statute. Existing Rule 5(a) provides
that if a district court amends an order to contain the prescribed
statement, the petition must be filed within 10 days after entry of
the amended order. The new rule similarly says that if a party
cannot petition without the district court's permission or
statement that necessary circumstances are present, the district
court may amend its order to include such a statement and the time
to petition runs from the entry of the amended order.
The provision that the Rule 4(a) time for filing a notice of
appeal should apply if the statute or rule is silent about the
filing time was drawn from existing Rule 5.1.
Subdivision (b). The changes made in the provisions in paragraph
(b)(1) are intended only to broaden them sufficiently to make them
appropriate for all discretionary appeals.
In paragraph (b)(2) a uniform time - 7 days - is established for
filing an answer in opposition or cross-petition. Seven days is the
time for responding under existing Rule 5 and is an appropriate
length of time when dealing with an interlocutory appeal. Although
existing Rule 5.1 provides 14 days for responding, the Committee
does not believe that the longer response time is necessary.
Subdivision (c). Subdivision (c) is substantively unchanged.
Subdivision (d). Paragraph (d)(2) is amended to state that "the
date when the order granting permission to appeal is entered serves
as the date of the notice of appeal" for purposes of calculating
time under the rules. That language simply clarifies existing
practice.
COMMITTEE NOTES ON RULES - 2002 AMENDMENT
Subdivision (c). A petition for permission to appeal, a
cross-petition for permission to appeal, and an answer to a
petition or cross-petition for permission to appeal are all "other
papers" for purposes of Rule 32(c)(2), and all of the requirements
of Rule 32(a) apply to those papers, except as provided in Rule
32(c)(2). During the 1998 restyling of the Federal Rules of
Appellate Procedure, Rule 5(c) was inadvertently changed to suggest
that only the requirements of Rule 32(a)(1) apply to such papers.
Rule 5(c) has been amended to correct that error.
Rule 5(c) has been further amended to limit the length of papers
filed under Rule 5.
Changes Made After Publication and Comments. No changes were made
to the text of the proposed amendment or to the Committee Note.
-End-
-CITE-
28 USC APPENDIX Rule 5.1 01/06/03
-EXPCITE-
TITLE 28 - APPENDIX
FEDERAL RULES OF APPELLATE PROCEDURE
TITLE II. APPEAL FROM A JUDGMENT OR ORDER OF A DISTRICT COURT
-HEAD-
[Rule 5.1. Appeal by Leave under 28 U.S.C. Sec. 636(c)(5)]
(Abrogated Apr. 24, 1998, eff. Dec. 1, 1998)
-STATUTE-
-MISC1-
COMMITTEE NOTES ON RULES - 1998 AMENDMENT
The Federal Courts Improvement Act of 1996, Pub. L. No. 104-317,
abolished appeals by permission under 28 U.S.C. Sec. 636(c)(5),
making Rule 5.1 obsolete. Rule 5.1 is, therefore, abrogated.
-End-
-CITE-
28 USC APPENDIX Rule 6 01/06/03
-EXPCITE-
TITLE 28 - APPENDIX
FEDERAL RULES OF APPELLATE PROCEDURE
TITLE II. APPEAL FROM A JUDGMENT OR ORDER OF A DISTRICT COURT
-HEAD-
Rule 6. Appeal in a Bankruptcy Case from a Final Judgment, Order,
or Decree of a District Court or Bankruptcy Appellate Panel
-STATUTE-
(a) Appeal From a Judgment, Order, or Decree of a District Court
Exercising Original Jurisdiction in a Bankruptcy Case. An appeal to
a court of appeals from a final judgment, order, or decree of a
district court exercising jurisdiction under 28 U.S.C. Sec. 1334 is
taken as any other civil appeal under these rules.
(b) Appeal From a Judgment, Order, or Decree of a District Court
or Bankruptcy Appellate Panel Exercising Appellate Jurisdiction in
a Bankruptcy Case.
(1) Applicability of Other Rules. These rules apply to an
appeal to a court of appeals under 28 U.S.C. Sec. 158(d) from a
final judgment, order, or decree of a district court or
bankruptcy appellate panel exercising appellate jurisdiction
under 28 U.S.C. Sec. 158(a) or (b). But there are 3 exceptions:
(A) Rules 4(a)(4), 4(b), 9, 10, 11, 12(b), 13-20, 22-23, and
24(b) do not apply;
(B) the reference in Rule 3(c) to "Form 1 in the Appendix of
Forms" must be read as a reference to Form 5; and
(C) when the appeal is from a bankruptcy appellate panel, the
term "district court," as used in any applicable rule, means
"appellate panel."
(2) Additional Rules. In addition to the rules made applicable
by Rule 6(b)(1), the following rules apply:
(A) Motion for rehearing.
(i) If a timely motion for rehearing under Bankruptcy Rule
8015 is filed, the time to appeal for all parties runs from
the entry of the order disposing of the motion. A notice of
appeal filed after the district court or bankruptcy appellate
panel announces or enters a judgment, order, or decree - but
before disposition of the motion for rehearing - becomes
effective when the order disposing of the motion for
rehearing is entered.
(ii) Appellate review of the order disposing of the motion
requires the party, in compliance with Rules 3(c) and
6(b)(1)(B), to amend a previously filed notice of appeal. A
party intending to challenge an altered or amended judgment,
order, or decree must file a notice of appeal or amended
notice of appeal within the time prescribed by Rule 4 -
excluding Rules 4(a)(4) and 4(b) - measured from the entry of
the order disposing of the motion.
(iii) No additional fee is required to file an amended
notice.
(B) The record on appeal.
(i) Within 10 days after filing the notice of appeal, the
appellant must file with the clerk possessing the record
assembled in accordance with Bankruptcy Rule 8006 - and serve
on the appellee - a statement of the issues to be presented
on appeal and a designation of the record to be certified and
sent to the circuit clerk.
(ii) An appellee who believes that other parts of the
record are necessary must, within 10 days after being served
with the appellant's designation, file with the clerk and
serve on the appellant a designation of additional parts to
be included.
(iii) The record on appeal consists of:
-- the redesignated record as provided above;
-- the proceedings in the district court or bankruptcy
appellate panel; and
-- a certified copy of the docket entries prepared by the
clerk under Rule 3(d).
(C) Forwarding the record.
(i) When the record is complete, the district clerk or
bankruptcy appellate panel clerk must number the documents
constituting the record and send them promptly to the circuit
clerk together with a list of the documents correspondingly
numbered and reasonably identified. Unless directed to do so
by a party or the circuit clerk, the clerk will not send to
the court of appeals documents of unusual bulk or weight,
physical exhibits other than documents, or other parts of the
record designated for omission by local rule of the court of
appeals. If the exhibits are unusually bulky or heavy, a
party must arrange with the clerks in advance for their
transportation and receipt.
(ii) All parties must do whatever else is necessary to
enable the clerk to assemble and forward the record. The
court of appeals may provide by rule or order that a
certified copy of the docket entries be sent in place of the
redesignated record, but any party may request at any time
during the pendency of the appeal that the redesignated
record be sent.
(D) Filing the record. Upon receiving the record - or a
certified copy of the docket entries sent in place of the
redesignated record - the circuit clerk must file it and
immediately notify all parties of the filing date.
-SOURCE-
(As amended Apr. 30, 1979, eff. Aug. 1, 1979; Apr. 25, 1989, eff.
Dec. 1, 1989; Apr. 30, 1991, eff. Dec. 1, 1991; Apr. 22, 1993, eff.
Dec. 1, 1993; Apr. 24, 1998, eff. Dec. 1, 1998.)
-MISC1-
NOTES OF ADVISORY COMMITTEE ON RULES - 1967
This rule is substantially a restatement of present procedure.
See D.C. Cir. Rule 34; 6th Cir. Rule 11; 7th Cir. Rule 10(d); 10th
Cir. Rule 13.
Present circuit rules commonly provide that the petition for
allowance of an appeal shall be filed within the time allowed by
Section 25 of the Bankruptcy Act for taking appeals of right. For
the reasons explained in the Note accompanying Rule 4, that rule
makes the time for appeal in bankruptcy cases the same as that
which obtains in other civil cases and thus supersedes Section 25.
Thus the present rule simply continues the former practice of
making the time for filing the petition in appeals by allowance the
same as that provided for filing the notice of appeal in appeals of
right.
NOTES OF ADVISORY COMMITTEE ON RULES - 1979 AMENDMENT
The proposed amendment adapts to the practice in appeals by
allowance in bankruptcy proceedings the provisions of proposed Rule
3(e) above, requiring payment of all fees in the district court at
the time of the filing of the notice of appeal. See Note to Rule
3(e), supra.
NOTES OF ADVISORY COMMITTEE ON RULES - 1989 AMENDMENT
A new Rule 6 is proposed. The Bankruptcy Reform Act of 1978, Pub.
L. No. 95-598, 92 Stat. 2549, the Supreme Court decision in
Northern Pipeline Construction Co. v. Marathon Pipe Line Co., 458
U.S. 50 (1982), and the Bankruptcy Amendments and Federal Judgeship
Act of 1984, Pub. L. No. 98-353, 98 Stat. 333, have made the
existing Rule 6 obsolete.
Subdivision (a). Subdivision (a) provides that when a district
court exercises original jurisdiction in a bankruptcy matter,
rather than referring it to a bankruptcy judge for a final
determination, the appeal should be taken in identical fashion as
appeals from district court decisions in other civil actions. A
district court exercises original jurisdiction and this subdivision
applies when the district court enters a final order or judgment
upon consideration of a bankruptcy judge's proposed findings of
fact and conclusions of law in a non-core proceeding pursuant to 28
U.S.C. Sec. 157(c)(1) or when a district court withdraws a
proceeding pursuant to 28 U.S.C. Sec. 157(d). This subdivision is
included to avoid uncertainty arising from the question of whether
a bankruptcy case is a civil case. The rules refer at various
points to the procedure "in a civil case", see, e.g. Rule 4(a)(1).
Subdivision (a) makes it clear that such rules apply to an appeal
from a district court bankruptcy decision.
Subdivision (b). Subdivision (b) governs appeals that follow
intermediate review of a bankruptcy judge's decision by a district
court or a bankruptcy appellate panel.
Subdivision (b)(1). Subdivision (b)(1) provides for the general
applicability of the Federal Rules of Appellate Procedure, with
specified exceptions, to appeals covered by subdivision (b) and
makes necessary word adjustments.
Subdivision (b)(2). Paragraph (i) provides that the time for
filing a notice of appeal shall begin to run anew from the entry of
an order denying a rehearing or from the entry of a subsequent
judgment. The Committee deliberately omitted from the rule any
provision governing the validity of a notice of appeal filed prior
to the entry of an order denying a rehearing; the Committee
intended to leave undisturbed the current state of the law on that
issue. Paragraph (ii) calls for a redesignation of the appellate
record assembled in the bankruptcy court pursuant to Rule 8006 of
the Rules of Bankruptcy Procedure. After an intermediate appeal, a
party may well narrow the focus of its efforts on the second appeal
and a redesignation of the record may eliminate unnecessary
material. The proceedings during the first appeal are included to
cover the possibility that independent error in the intermediate
appeal, for example failure to follow appropriate procedures, may
be assigned in the court of appeals. Paragraph (iii) provides for
the transmission of the record and tracks the appropriate
subsections of Rule 11. Paragraph (iv) provides for the filing of
the record and notices to the parties. Paragraph (ii) and Paragraph
(iv) both refer to "a certified copy of the docket entries". The
"docket entries" referred to are the docket entries in the district
court or the bankruptcy appellate panel, not the entire docket in
the bankruptcy court.
NOTES OF ADVISORY COMMITTEE ON RULES - 1993 AMENDMENT
Note to Subparagraph (b)(2)(i). The amendment accompanies
concurrent changes to Rule 4(a)(4). Although Rule 6 never included
language such as that being changed in Rule 4(a)(4), language that
made a notice of appeal void if it was filed before, or during the
pendency of, certain posttrial motions, courts have found that a
notice of appeal is premature if it is filed before the court
disposes of a motion for rehearing. See, e.g., In re X-Cel, Inc.,
823 F.2d 192 (7th Cir. 1987); In re Shah, 859 F.2d 1463 (10th Cir.
1988). The Committee wants to achieve the same result here as in
Rule 4, the elimination of a procedural trap.
COMMITTEE NOTES ON RULES - 1998 AMENDMENT
The language and organization of the rule are amended to make the
rule more easily understood. In addition to changes made to improve
the understanding, the Advisory Committee has changed language to
make style and terminology consistent throughout the appellate
rules. These changes are intended to be stylistic only.
Subdivision (b). Language is added to Rule 6(b)(2)(A)(ii) to
conform with the corresponding provision in Rule 4(a)(4). The new
language is clarifying rather than substantive. The existing rule
states that a party intending to challenge an alteration or
amendment of a judgment must file an amended notice of appeal. Of
course if a party has not previously filed a notice of appeal, the
party would simply file a notice of appeal not an amended one. The
new language states that the party must file "a notice of appeal or
amended notice of appeal."
-REFTEXT-
REFERENCES IN TEXT
The Bankruptcy Rules, referred to in subd. (b)(2)(A)(i), (B)(i),
are set out in the Appendix to Title 11, Bankruptcy.
-End-
-CITE-
28 USC APPENDIX Rule 7 01/06/03
-EXPCITE-
TITLE 28 - APPENDIX
FEDERAL RULES OF APPELLATE PROCEDURE
TITLE II. APPEAL FROM A JUDGMENT OR ORDER OF A DISTRICT COURT
-HEAD-
Rule 7. Bond for Costs on Appeal in a Civil Case
-STATUTE-
In a civil case, the district court may require an appellant to
file a bond or provide other security in any form and amount
necessary to ensure payment of costs on appeal. Rule 8(b) applies
to a surety on a bond given under this rule.
-SOURCE-
(As amended Apr. 30, 1979, eff. Aug. 1, 1979; Apr. 24, 1998, eff.
Dec. 1, 1998.)
-MISC1-
NOTES OF ADVISORY COMMITTEE ON RULES - 1967
This rule is derived from FRCP 73(c) without change in substance.
NOTES OF ADVISORY COMMITTEE ON RULES - 1979 AMENDMENT
The amendment would eliminate the provision of the present rule
that requires the appellant to file a $250 bond for costs on appeal
at the time of filing his notice of appeal. The $250 provision was
carried forward in the F.R.App.P. from former Rule 73(c) of the
F.R.Civ.P., and the $250 figure has remained unchanged since the
adoption of that rule in 1937. Today it bears no relationship to
actual costs. The amended rule would leave the question of the need
for a bond for costs and its amount in the discretion of the court.
COMMITTEE NOTES ON RULES - 1998 AMENDMENT
The language of the rule is amended to make the rule more easily
understood. In addition to changes made to improve the
understanding, the Advisory Committee has changed language to make
style and terminology consistent throughout the appellate rules.
These changes are intended to be stylistic only.
-End-
-CITE-
28 USC APPENDIX Rule 8 01/06/03
-EXPCITE-
TITLE 28 - APPENDIX
FEDERAL RULES OF APPELLATE PROCEDURE
TITLE II. APPEAL FROM A JUDGMENT OR ORDER OF A DISTRICT COURT
-HEAD-
Rule 8. Stay or Injunction Pending Appeal
-STATUTE-
(a) Motion for Stay.
(1) Initial Motion in the District Court. A party must
ordinarily move first in the district court for the following
relief:
(A) a stay of the judgment or order of a district court
pending appeal;
(B) approval of a supersedeas bond; or
(C) an order suspending, modifying, restoring, or granting an
injunction while an appeal is pending.
(2) Motion in the Court of Appeals; Conditions on Relief. A
motion for the relief mentioned in Rule 8(a)(1) may be made to
the court of appeals or to one of its judges.
(A) The motion must:
(i) show that moving first in the district court would be
impracticable; or
(ii) state that, a motion having been made, the district
court denied the motion or failed to afford the relief
requested and state any reasons given by the district court
for its action.
(B) The motion must also include:
(i) the reasons for granting the relief requested and the
facts relied on;
(ii) originals or copies of affidavits or other sworn
statements supporting facts subject to dispute; and
(iii) relevant parts of the record.
(C) The moving party must give reasonable notice of the
motion to all parties.
(D) A motion under this Rule 8(a)(2) must be filed with the
circuit clerk and normally will be considered by a panel of the
court. But in an exceptional case in which time requirements
make that procedure impracticable, the motion may be made to
and considered by a single judge.
(E) The court may condition relief on a party's filing a bond
or other appropriate security in the district court.
(b) Proceeding Against a Surety. If a party gives security in the
form of a bond or stipulation or other undertaking with one or more
sureties, each surety submits to the jurisdiction of the district
court and irrevocably appoints the district clerk as the surety's
agent on whom any papers affecting the surety's liability on the
bond or undertaking may be served. On motion, a surety's liability
may be enforced in the district court without the necessity of an
independent action. The motion and any notice that the district
court prescribes may be served on the district clerk, who must
promptly mail a copy to each surety whose address is known.
(c) Stay in a Criminal Case. Rule 38 of the Federal Rules of
Criminal Procedure governs a stay in a criminal case.
-SOURCE-
(As amended Mar. 10, 1986, eff. July 1, 1986; Apr. 27, 1995, eff.
Dec. 1, 1995; Apr. 24, 1998, eff. Dec. 1, 1998.)
-MISC1-
NOTES OF ADVISORY COMMITTEE ON RULES - 1967
Subdivision (a). While the power of a court of appeals to stay
proceedings in the district court during the pendency of an appeal
is not explicitly conferred by statute, it exists by virtue of the
all writs statute, 28 U.S.C. Sec. 1651. Eastern Greyhound Lines v.
Fusco, 310 F.2d 632 (6th Cir., 1962); United States v. Lynd, 301
F.2d 818 (5th Cir., 1962); Public Utilities Commission of Dist. of
Col. v. Capital Transit Co., 94 U.S.App.D.C. 140, 214 F.2d 242
(1954). And the Supreme Court has termed the power "inherent" (In
re McKenzie, 180 U.S. 536, 551, 21 S.Ct. 468, 45 L.Ed. 657 (1901))
and "part of its (the court of appeals) traditional equipment for
the administration of justice." (Scripps-Howard Radio v. F.C.C.,
316 U.S. 4, 9-10, 62 S.Ct. 875, 86 L.Ed. 1229 (1942)). The power of
a single judge of the court of appeals to grant a stay pending
appeal was recognized in In re McKenzie, supra. Alexander v. United
States, 173 F.2d 865 (9th Cir., 1949) held that a single judge
could not stay the judgment of a district court, but it noted the
absence of a rule of court authorizing the practice. FRCP 62(g)
adverts to the grant of a stay by a single judge of the appellate
court. The requirement that application be first made to the
district court is the case law rule. Cumberland Tel. & Tel. Co. v.
Louisiana Public Service Commission, 260 U.S. 212, 219, 43 S.Ct.
75, 67 L.Ed. 217 (1922); United States v. El-O-Pathic Pharmacy, 192
F.2d 62 (9th Cir., 1951); United States v. Hansell, 109 F.2d 613
(2d Cir., 1940). The requirement is explicitly stated in FRCrP
38(c) and in the rules of the First, Third, Fourth and Tenth
Circuits. See also Supreme Court Rules 18 and 27.
The statement of the requirement in the proposed rule would work
a minor change in present practice. FRCP 73(e) requires that if a
bond for costs on appeal or a supersedeas bond is offered after the
appeal is docketed, leave to file the bond must be obtained from
the court of appeals. There appears to be no reason why matters
relating to supersedeas and cost bonds should not be initially
presented to the district court whenever they arise prior to the
disposition of the appeal. The requirement of FRCP 73(e) appears to
be a concession to the view that once an appeal is perfected, the
district court loses all power over its judgment. See In re Federal
Facilities Trust, 227 F.2d 651 (7th Cir., 1955) and cases - cited
at 654-655. No reason appears why all questions related to
supersedeas or the bond for costs on appeal should not be presented
in the first instance to the district court in the ordinary case.
Subdivision (b). The provisions respecting a surety upon a bond
or other undertaking are based upon FRCP 65.1.
NOTES OF ADVISORY COMMITTEE ON RULES - 1986 AMENDMENT
The amendments to Rule 8(b) are technical. No substantive change
is intended.
NOTES OF ADVISORY COMMITTEE ON RULES - 1995 AMENDMENT
Subdivision (c). The amendment conforms subdivision (c) to
previous amendments to Fed. R. Crim. P. 38. This amendment strikes
the reference to subdivision (a) of Fed. R. Crim. P. 38 so that
Fed. R. App. P. 8(c) refers instead to all of Criminal Rule 38.
When Rule 8(c) was adopted Fed. R. Crim. P. 38(a) included the
procedures for obtaining a stay of execution when the sentence in
question was death, imprisonment, a fine, or probation. Criminal
Rule 38 was later amended and now addresses those topics in
separate subdivisions. Subdivision 38(a) now addresses only stays
of death sentences. The proper cross reference is to all of
Criminal Rule 38.
COMMITTEE NOTES ON RULES - 1998 AMENDMENT
The language and organization of the rule are amended to make the
rule more easily understood. In addition to changes made to improve
the understanding, the Advisory Committee has changed language to
make style and terminology consistent throughout the appellate
rules. These changes are intended to be stylistic only.
-REFTEXT-
REFERENCES IN TEXT
Rule 38 of the Federal Rules of Criminal Procedure, referred to
in subd. (c), are set out in the Appendix to Title 18, Crimes and
Criminal Procedure.
-End-
-CITE-
28 USC APPENDIX Rule 9 01/06/03
-EXPCITE-
TITLE 28 - APPENDIX
FEDERAL RULES OF APPELLATE PROCEDURE
TITLE II. APPEAL FROM A JUDGMENT OR ORDER OF A DISTRICT COURT
-HEAD-
Rule 9. Release in a Criminal Case
-STATUTE-
(a) Release Before Judgment of Conviction.
(1) The district court must state in writing, or orally on the
record, the reasons for an order regarding the release or
detention of a defendant in a criminal case. A party appealing
from the order must file with the court of appeals a copy of the
district court's order and the court's statement of reasons as
soon as practicable after filing the notice of appeal. An
appellant who questions the factual basis for the district
court's order must file a transcript of the release proceedings
or an explanation of why a transcript was not obtained.
(2) After reasonable notice to the appellee, the court of
appeals must promptly determine the appeal on the basis of the
papers, affidavits, and parts of the record that the parties
present or the court requires. Unless the court so orders, briefs
need not be filed.
(3) The court of appeals or one of its judges may order the
defendant's release pending the disposition of the appeal.
(b) Release After Judgment of Conviction. A party entitled to do
so may obtain review of a district-court order regarding release
after a judgment of conviction by filing a notice of appeal from
that order in the district court, or by filing a motion in the
court of appeals if the party has already filed a notice of appeal
from the judgment of conviction. Both the order and the review are
subject to Rule 9(a). The papers filed by the party seeking review
must include a copy of the judgment of conviction.
(c) Criteria for Release. The court must make its decision
regarding release in accordance with the applicable provisions of
18 U.S.C. Secs. 3142, 3143, and 3145(c).
-SOURCE-
(As amended Apr. 24, 1972, eff. Oct. 1, 1972; Pub. L. 98-473, title
II, Sec. 210, Oct. 12, 1984, 98 Stat. 1987; Apr. 29, 1994, eff.
Dec. 1, 1994; Apr. 24, 1998, eff. Dec. 1, 1998.)
-MISC1-
NOTES OF ADVISORY COMMITTEE ON RULES - 1967
Subdivision (a). The appealability of release orders entered
prior to a judgment of conviction is determined by the provisions
of 18 U.S.C. Sec. 3147, as qualified by 18 U.S.C. Sec. 3148, and by
the rule announced in Stack v. Boyle, 342 U.S. 1, 72 S.Ct. 1, 96
L.Ed. 3 (1951), holding certain orders respecting release
appealable as final orders under 28 U.S.C. Sec. 1291. The language
of the rule, "(an)n appeal authorized by law from an order refusing
or imposing conditions of release," is intentionally broader than
that used in 18 U.S.C. Sec. 3147 in describing orders made
appealable by that section. The summary procedure ordained by the
rule is intended to apply to all appeals from orders respecting
release, and it would appear that at least some orders not made
appealable by 18 U.S.C. Sec. 3147 are nevertheless appealable under
the Stack v. Boyle rationale. See, for example, United States v.
Foster, 278 F.2d 567 (2d Cir., 1960), holding appealable an order
refusing to extend bail limits. Note also the provisions of 18
U.S.C. Sec. 3148, which after withdrawing from persons charged with
an offense punishable by death and from those who have been
convicted of an offense the right of appeal granted by 18 U.S.C.
Sec. 3147, expressly preserves "other rights to judicial review of
conditions of release or orders of detention."
The purpose of the subdivision is to insure the expeditious
determination of appeals respecting release orders, an expedition
commanded by 18 U.S.C. Sec. 3147 and by the Court in Stack v.
Boyle, supra. It permits such appeals to be heard on an informal
record without the necessity of briefs and on reasonable notice.
Equally important to the just and speedy disposition of these
appeals is the requirement that the district court state the
reasons for its decision. See Jones v. United States, 358 F.2d 543
(D.C. Cir., 1966); Rhodes v. United States, 275 F.2d 78 (4th Cir.,
1960); United States v. Williams, 253 F.2d 144 (7th Cir., 1958).
Subdivision (b). This subdivision regulates procedure for review
of an order respecting release at a time when the jurisdiction of
the court of appeals has already attached by virtue of an appeal
from the judgment of conviction. Notwithstanding the fact that
jurisdiction has passed to the court of appeals, both 18 U.S.C.
Sec. 3148 and FRCrP 38(c) contemplate that the initial
determination of whether a convicted defendant is to be released
pending the appeal is to be made by the district court. But at this
point there is obviously no need for a separate appeal from the
order of the district court respecting release. The court of
appeals or a judge thereof has power to effect release on motion as
an incident to the pending appeal. See FRCrP 38(c) and 46(a)(2).
But the motion is functionally identical with the appeal regulated
by subdivision (a) and requires the same speedy determination if
relief is to be effective. Hence the similarity of the procedure
outlined in the two subdivisions.
NOTES OF ADVISORY COMMITTEE ON RULES - 1972 AMENDMENT
Subdivision (c) is intended to bring the rule into conformity
with 18 U.S.C. Sec. 3148 and to allocate to the defendant the
burden of establishing that he will not flee and that he poses no
danger to any other person or to the community. The burden is
placed upon the defendant in the view that the fact of his
conviction justifies retention in custody in situations where doubt
exists as to whether he can be safely released pending disposition
of his appeal. Release pending appeal may also be denied if "it
appears that an appeal is frivolous or taken for delay." 18 U.S.C.
Sec. 3148. The burden of establishing the existence of these
criteria remains with the government.
NOTES OF ADVISORY COMMITTEE ON RULES - 1994 AMENDMENT
Rule 9 has been entirely rewritten. The basic structure of the
rule has been retained. Subdivision (a) governs appeals from bail
decisions made before the judgment of conviction is entered at the
time of sentencing. Subdivision (b) governs review of bail
decisions made after sentencing and pending appeal.
Subdivision (a). The subdivision applies to appeals from "an
order regarding release or detention" of a criminal defendant
before judgment of conviction, i.e., before sentencing. See
Fed.R.Crim.P. 32. The old rule applied only to a defendant's appeal
from an order "refusing or imposing conditions of release." The new
broader language is needed because the government is now permitted
to appeal bail decisions in certain circumstances. 18 U.S.C. Secs.
3145 and 3731. For the same reason, the rule now requires a
district court to state reasons for its decision in all instances,
not only when it refuses release or imposes conditions on release.
The rule requires a party appealing from a district court's
decision to supply the court of appeals with a copy of the district
court's order and its statement of reasons. In addition, an
appellant who questions the factual basis for the district court's
decision must file a transcript of the release proceedings, if
possible. The rule also permits a court to require additional
papers. A court must act promptly to decide these appeals; lack of
pertinent information can cause delays. The old rule left the
determination of what should be filed entirely within the party's
discretion; it stated that the court of appeals would hear the
appeal "upon such papers, affidavits, and portions of the record as
the parties shall present."
Subdivision (b). This subdivision applies to review of a district
court's decision regarding release made after judgment of
conviction. As in subdivision (a), the language has been changed to
accommodate the government's ability to seek review.
The word "review" is used in this subdivision, rather than
"appeal" because review may be obtained, in some instances, upon
motion. Review may be obtained by motion if the party has already
filed a notice of appeal from the judgment of conviction. If the
party desiring review of the release decision has not filed such a
notice of appeal, review may be obtained only by filing a notice of
appeal from the order regarding release.
The requirements of subdivision (a) apply to both the order and
the review. That is, the district court must state its reasons for
the order. The party seeking review must supply the court of
appeals with the same information required by subdivision (a). In
addition, the party seeking review must also supply the court with
information about the conviction and the sentence.
Subdivision (c). This subdivision has been amended to include
references to the correct statutory provisions.
COMMITTEE NOTES ON RULES - 1998 AMENDMENT
The language and organization of the rule are amended to make the
rule more easily understood. In addition to changes made to improve
the understanding, the Advisory Committee has changed language to
make style and terminology consistent throughout the appellate
rules. These changes are intended to be stylistic only.
AMENDMENT BY PUBLIC LAW
1984 - Subd. (c). Pub. L. 98-473 substituted "3143" for "3148"
and inserted "and that the appeal is not for purpose of delay and
raises a substantial question of law or fact likely to result in
reversal or in an order for a new trial" after "community".
-End-
-CITE-
28 USC APPENDIX Rule 10 01/06/03
-EXPCITE-
TITLE 28 - APPENDIX
FEDERAL RULES OF APPELLATE PROCEDURE
TITLE II. APPEAL FROM A JUDGMENT OR ORDER OF A DISTRICT COURT
-HEAD-
Rule 10. The Record on Appeal
-STATUTE-
(a) Composition of the Record on Appeal. The following items
constitute the record on appeal:
(1) the original papers and exhibits filed in the district
court;
(2) the transcript of proceedings, if any; and
(3) a certified copy of the docket entries prepared by the
district clerk.
(b) The Transcript of Proceedings.
(1) Appellant's Duty to Order. Within 10 days after filing the
notice of appeal or entry of an order disposing of the last
timely remaining motion of a type specified in Rule 4(a)(4)(A),
whichever is later, the appellant must do either of the
following:
(A) order from the reporter a transcript of such parts of the
proceedings not already on file as the appellant considers
necessary, subject to a local rule of the court of appeals and
with the following qualifications:
(i) the order must be in writing;
(ii) if the cost of the transcript is to be paid by the
United States under the Criminal Justice Act, the order must
so state; and
(iii) the appellant must, within the same period, file a
copy of the order with the district clerk; or
(B) file a certificate stating that no transcript will be
ordered.
(2) Unsupported Finding or Conclusion. If the appellant intends
to urge on appeal that a finding or conclusion is unsupported by
the evidence or is contrary to the evidence, the appellant must
include in the record a transcript of all evidence relevant to
that finding or conclusion.
(3) Partial Transcript. Unless the entire transcript is
ordered:
(A) the appellant must - within the 10 days provided in Rule
10(b)(1) - file a statement of the issues that the appellant
intends to present on the appeal and must serve on the appellee
a copy of both the order or certificate and the statement;
(B) if the appellee considers it necessary to have a
transcript of other parts of the proceedings, the appellee
must, within 10 days after the service of the order or
certificate and the statement of the issues, file and serve on
the appellant a designation of additional parts to be ordered;
and
(C) unless within 10 days after service of that designation
the appellant has ordered all such parts, and has so notified
the appellee, the appellee may within the following 10 days
either order the parts or move in the district court for an
order requiring the appellant to do so.
(4) Payment. At the time of ordering, a party must make
satisfactory arrangements with the reporter for paying the cost
of the transcript.
(c) Statement of the Evidence When the Proceedings Were Not
Recorded or When a Transcript Is Unavailable. If the transcript of
a hearing or trial is unavailable, the appellant may prepare a
statement of the evidence or proceedings from the best available
means, including the appellant's recollection. The statement must
be served on the appellee, who may serve objections or proposed
amendments within 10 days after being served. The statement and any
objections or proposed amendments must then be submitted to the
district court for settlement and approval. As settled and
approved, the statement must be included by the district clerk in
the record on appeal.
(d) Agreed Statement as the Record on Appeal. In place of the
record on appeal as defined in Rule 10(a), the parties may prepare,
sign, and submit to the district court a statement of the case
showing how the issues presented by the appeal arose and were
decided in the district court. The statement must set forth only
those facts averred and proved or sought to be proved that are
essential to the courts resolution of the issues. If the statement
is truthful, it - together with any additions that the district
court may consider necessary to a full presentation of the issues
on appeal - must be approved by the district court and must then be
certified to the court of appeals as the record on appeal. The
district clerk must then send it to the circuit clerk within the
time provided by Rule 11. A copy of the agreed statement may be
filed in place of the appendix required by Rule 30.
(e) Correction or Modification of the Record.
(1) If any difference arises about whether the record truly
discloses what occurred in the district court, the difference
must be submitted to and settled by that court and the record
conformed accordingly.
(2) If anything material to either party is omitted from or
misstated in the record by error or accident, the omission or
misstatement may be corrected and a supplemental record may be
certified and forwarded:
(A) on stipulation of the parties;
(B) by the district court before or after the record has been
forwarded; or
(C) by the court of appeals.
(3) All other questions as to the form and content of the
record must be presented to the court of appeals.
-SOURCE-
(As amended Apr. 30, 1979, eff. Aug. 1, 1979; Mar. 10, 1986, eff.
July 1, 1986; Apr. 30, 1991, eff. Dec. 1, 1991; Apr. 22, 1993, eff.
Dec. 1, 1993; Apr. 27, 1995, eff. Dec. 1, 1995; Apr. 24, 1998, eff.
Dec. 1, 1998.)
-MISC1-
NOTES OF ADVISORY COMMITTEE ON RULES - 1967
This rule is derived from FRCP 75(a), (b), (c) and (d) and FRCP
76, without change in substance.
NOTES OF ADVISORY COMMITTEE ON RULES - 1979 AMENDMENT
The proposed amendments to Rule 10(b) would require the appellant
to place with the reporter a written order for the transcript of
proceedings and file a copy with the clerk, and to indicate on the
order if the transcript is to be provided under the Criminal
Justice Act. If the appellant does not plan to order a transcript
of any of the proceedings, he must file a certificate to that
effect. These requirements make the appellant's steps in readying
the appeal a matter of record and give the district court notice of
requests for transcripts at the expense of the United States under
the Criminal Justice Act. They are also the third step in giving
the court of appeals some control over the production and
transmission of the record. See Note to Rules 3(d)(e) above and
Rule 11 below.
In the event the appellant orders no transcript, or orders a
transcript of less than all the proceedings, the procedure under
the proposed amended rule remains substantially as before. The
appellant must serve on the appellee a copy of his order or in the
event no order is placed, of the certificate to that effect, and a
statement of the issues he intends to present on appeal, and the
appellee may thereupon designate additional parts of the transcript
to be included, and upon appellant's refusal to order the
additional parts, may either order them himself or seek an order
requiring the appellant to order them. The only change proposed in
this procedure is to place a 10 day time limit on motions to
require the appellant to order the additional portions.
Rule 10(b) is made subject to local rules of the courts of
appeals in recognition of the practice in some circuits in some
classes of cases, e. g., appeals by indigents in criminal cases
after a short trial, of ordering immediate preparation of a
complete transcript, thus making compliance with the rule
unnecessary.
NOTES OF ADVISORY COMMITTEE ON RULES - 1986 AMENDMENT
The amendments to Rules 10(b) and (c) are technical. No
substantive change is intended.
NOTES OF ADVISORY COMMITTEE ON RULES - 1993 AMENDMENT
The amendment is technical and no substantive change is intended.
NOTES OF ADVISORY COMMITTEE ON RULES - 1995 AMENDMENT
Subdivision (b)(1). The amendment conforms this rule to
amendments made in Rule 4(a)(4) in 1993. The amendments to Rule
4(a)(4) provide that certain postjudgment motions have the effect
of suspending a filed notice of appeal until the disposition of the
last of such motions. The purpose of this amendment is to suspend
the 10-day period for ordering a transcript if a timely
postjudgment motion is made and a notice of appeal is suspended
under Rule 4(a)(4). The 10-day period set forth in the first
sentence of this rule begins to run when the order disposing of the
last of such postjudgment motions outstanding is entered.
COMMITTEE NOTES ON RULES - 1998 AMENDMENT
The language and organization of the rule are amended to make the
rule more easily understood. In addition to changes made to improve
the understanding, the Advisory Committee has changed language to
make style and terminology consistent throughout the appellate
rules. These changes are intended to be stylistic only.
-REFTEXT-
REFERENCES IN TEXT
The Criminal Justice Act, referred to in subd. (b)(1)(A)(ii),
probably means the Criminal Justice Act of 1964, Pub. L. 88-455,
Aug. 20, 1964, 78 Stat. 552, as amended, which enacted section
3006A of Title 18, Crimes and Criminal Procedure, and provisions
set out as notes under section 3006A of Title 18. For complete
classification of this Act to the Code, see Short Title note set
out under section 3006A of Title 18 and Tables.
-End-
-CITE-
28 USC APPENDIX Rule 11 01/06/03
-EXPCITE-
TITLE 28 - APPENDIX
FEDERAL RULES OF APPELLATE PROCEDURE
TITLE II. APPEAL FROM A JUDGMENT OR ORDER OF A DISTRICT COURT
-HEAD-
Rule 11. Forwarding the Record
-STATUTE-
(a) Appellant's Duty. An appellant filing a notice of appeal must
comply with Rule 10(b) and must do whatever else is necessary to
enable the clerk to assemble and forward the record. If there are
multiple appeals from a judgment or order, the clerk must forward a
single record.
(b) Duties of Reporter and District Clerk.
(1) Reporter's Duty to Prepare and File a Transcript. The
reporter must prepare and file a transcript as follows:
(A) Upon receiving an order for a transcript, the reporter
must enter at the foot of the order the date of its receipt and
the expected completion date and send a copy, so endorsed, to
the circuit clerk.
(B) If the transcript cannot be completed within 30 days of
the reporters receipt of the order, the reporter may request
the circuit clerk to grant additional time to complete it. The
clerk must note on the docket the action taken and notify the
parties.
(C) When a transcript is complete, the reporter must file it
with the district clerk and notify the circuit clerk of the
filing.
(D) If the reporter fails to file the transcript on time, the
circuit clerk must notify the district judge and do whatever
else the court of appeals directs.
(2) District Clerk's Duty to Forward. When the record is
complete, the district clerk must number the documents
constituting the record and send them promptly to the circuit
clerk together with a list of the documents correspondingly
numbered and reasonably identified. Unless directed to do so by a
party or the circuit clerk, the district clerk will not send to
the court of appeals documents of unusual bulk or weight,
physical exhibits other than documents, or other parts of the
record designated for omission by local rule of the court of
appeals. If the exhibits are unusually bulky or heavy, a party
must arrange with the clerks in advance for their transportation
and receipt.
(c) Retaining the Record Temporarily in the District Court for
Use in Preparing the Appeal. The parties may stipulate, or the
district court on motion may order, that the district clerk retain
the record temporarily for the parties to use in preparing the
papers on appeal. In that event the district clerk must certify to
the circuit clerk that the record on appeal is complete. Upon
receipt of the appellee's brief, or earlier if the court orders or
the parties agree, the appellant must request the district clerk to
forward the record.
(d) [Abrogated.]
(e) Retaining the Record by Court Order.
(1) The court of appeals may, by order or local rule, provide
that a certified copy of the docket entries be forwarded instead
of the entire record. But a party may at any time during the
appeal request that designated parts of the record be forwarded.
(2) The district court may order the record or some part of it
retained if the court needs it while the appeal is pending,
subject, however, to call by the court of appeals.
(3) If part or all of the record is ordered retained, the
district clerk must send to the court of appeals a copy of the
order and the docket entries together with the parts of the
original record allowed by the district court and copies of any
parts of the record designated by the parties.
(f) Retaining Parts of the Record in the District Court by
Stipulation of the Parties. The parties may agree by written
stipulation filed in the district court that designated parts of
the record be retained in the district court subject to call by the
court of appeals or request by a party. The parts of the record so
designated remain a part of the record on appeal.
(g) Record for a Preliminary Motion in the Court of Appeals. If,
before the record is forwarded, a party makes any of the following
motions in the court of appeals:
-- for dismissal;
-- for release;
-- for a stay pending appeal;
-- for additional security on the bond on appeal or on a
supersedeas bond; or
-- for any other intermediate order -
the district clerk must send the court of appeals any parts of the
record designated by any party.
-SOURCE-
(As amended Apr. 30, 1979, eff. Aug. 1, 1979; Mar. 10, 1986, eff.
July 1, 1986; Apr. 24, 1998, eff. Dec. 1, 1998.)
-MISC1-
NOTES OF ADVISORY COMMITTEE ON RULES - 1967
Subdivisions (a) and (b). These subdivisions are derived from
FRCP 73(g) and FRCP 75(e). FRCP 75(e) presently directs the clerk
of the district court to transmit the record within the time
allowed or fixed for its filing, which, under the provisions of
FRCP 73(g) is within 40 days from the date of filing the notice of
appeal, unless an extension is obtained from the district court.
The precise time at which the record must be transmitted thus
depends upon the time required for delivery of the record from the
district court to the court of appeals, since, to permit its timely
filing, it must reach the court of appeals before expiration of the
40-day period of an extension thereof. Subdivision (a) of this rule
provides that the record is to be transmitted within the 40-day
period, or any extension thereof; subdivision (b) provides that
transmission is effected when the clerk of the district court mails
or otherwise forwards the record to the clerk of the court of
appeals; Rule 12(b) directs the clerk of the court of appeals to
file the record upon its receipt following timely docketing and
transmittal. It can thus be determined with certainty precisely
when the clerk of the district court must forward the record to the
clerk of the court of appeals in order to effect timely filing: the
final day of the 40-day period or of any extension thereof.
Subdivision (c). This subdivision is derived from FRCP 75(e)
without change of substance.
Subdivision (d). This subdivision is derived from FRCP 73(g) and
FRCrP 39(c). Under present rules the district court is empowered to
extend the time for filing the record and docketing the appeal.
Since under the proposed rule timely transmission now insures
timely filing (see note to subdivisions (a) and (b) above) the
power of the district court is expressed in terms of its power to
extend the time for transmitting the record. Restriction of that
power to a period of 90 days after the filing of the notice of
appeal represents a change in the rule with respect to appeals in
criminal cases. FRCrP 39(c) now permits the district court to
extend the time for filing and docketing without restriction. No
good reason appears for a difference between the civil and criminal
rule in this regard, and subdivision (d) limits the power of the
district court to extend the time for transmitting the record in
all cases to 90 days from the date of filing the notice of appeal,
just as its power is now limited with respect to docketing and
filing in civil cases. Subdivision (d) makes explicit the power of
the court of appeals to permit the record to be filed at any time.
See Pyramid Motor Freight Corporation v. Ispass, 330, U.S. 695, 67
S.Ct. 954, 91 L.Ed. 1184 (1947).
Subdivisions (e), (f) and (g). These subdivisions are derived
from FRCP 75(f), (a) and (g), respectively, without change of
substance.
NOTES OF ADVISORY COMMITTEE ON RULES - 1979 AMENDMENT
Under present Rule 11(a) it is provided that the record shall be
transmitted to the court of appeals within 40 days after the filing
of the notice of appeal. Under present Rule 11(d) the district
court, on request made during the initial time or any extension
thereof, and cause shown, may extend the time for the transmission
of the record to a point not more than 90 days after the filing of
the first notice of appeal. If the district court is without
authority to grant a request to extend the time, or denies a
request for extension, the appellant may make a motion for
extension of time in the court of appeals. Thus the duty to see
that the record is transmitted is placed on the appellant. Aside
from ordering the transcript within the time prescribed the
appellant has no control over the time at which the record is
transmitted, since all steps beyond this point are in the hands of
the reporter and the clerk. The proposed amendments recognize this
fact and place the duty directly on the reporter and the clerk.
After receiving the written order for the transcript (See Note to
Rule 10(b) above), the reporter must acknowledge its receipt,
indicate when he expects to have it completed, and mail the order
so endorsed to the clerk of the court of appeals. Requests for
extensions of time must be made by the reporter to the clerk of the
court of appeals and action on such requests is entered on the
docket. Thus from the point at which the transcript is ordered the
clerk of the court of appeals is made aware of any delays. If the
transcript is not filed on time, the clerk of the court of appeals
will notify the district judge.
Present Rule 11(b) provides that the record shall be transmitted
when it is "complete for the purposes of the appeal." The proposed
amended rule continues this requirement. The record is complete for
the purposes of the appeal when it contains the original papers on
file in the clerk's office, all necessary exhibits, and the
transcript, if one is to be included. Cf. present Rule 11(c). The
original papers will be in the custody of the clerk of the district
court at the time the notice of appeal is filed. See Rule 5(e) of
the F.R.C.P. The custody of exhibits is often the subject of local
rules. Some of them require that documentary exhibits must be
deposited with the clerk. See Local Rule 13 of the Eastern District
of Virginia. Others leave exhibits with counsel, subject to order
of the court. See Local Rule 33 of the Northern District of
Illinois. If under local rules the custody of exhibits is left with
counsel, the district court should make adequate provision for
their preservation during the time during which an appeal may be
taken, the prompt deposit with the clerk of such as under Rule
11(b) are to be transmitted to the court of appeals, and the
availability of others in the event that the court of appeals
should require their transmission. Cf. Local Rule 11 of the Second
Circuit.
Usually the record will be complete with the filing of the
transcript. While the proposed amendment requires transmission
"forthwith" when the record is complete, it was not designed to
preclude a local requirement by the court of appeals that the
original papers and exhibits be transmitted when complete without
awaiting the filing of the transcript.
The proposed amendments continue the provision in the present
rule that documents of unusual bulk or weight and physical exhibits
other than documents shall not be transmitted without direction by
the parties or by the court of appeals, and the requirement that
the parties make special arrangements for transmission and receipt
of exhibits of unusual bulk or weight. In addition, they give
recognition to local rules that make transmission of other record
items subject to order of the court of appeals. See Local Rule 4 of
the Seventh Circuit.
NOTES OF ADVISORY COMMITTEE ON RULES - 1986 AMENDMENT
The amendments to Rule 11(b) are technical. No substantive change
is intended.
COMMITTEE NOTES ON RULES - 1998 AMENDMENT
The language and organization of the rule are amended to make the
rule more easily understood. In addition to changes made to improve
the understanding, the Advisory Committee has changed language to
make style and terminology consistent throughout the appellate
rules. These changes are intended to be stylistic only.
-End-
-CITE-
28 USC APPENDIX Rule 12 01/06/03
-EXPCITE-
TITLE 28 - APPENDIX
FEDERAL RULES OF APPELLATE PROCEDURE
TITLE II. APPEAL FROM A JUDGMENT OR ORDER OF A DISTRICT COURT
-HEAD-
Rule 12. Docketing the Appeal; Filing a Representation Statement;
Filing the Record
-STATUTE-
(a) Docketing the Appeal. Upon receiving the copy of the notice
of appeal and the docket entries from the district clerk under Rule
3(d), the circuit clerk must docket the appeal under the title of
the district-court action and must identify the appellant, adding
the appellant's name if necessary.
(b) Filing a Representation Statement. Unless the court of
appeals designates another time, the attorney who filed the notice
of appeal must, within 10 days after filing the notice, file a
statement with the circuit clerk naming the parties that the
attorney represents on appeal.
(c) Filing the Record, Partial Record, or Certificate. Upon
receiving the record, partial record, or district clerk's
certificate as provided in Rule 11, the circuit clerk must file it
and immediately notify all parties of the filing date.
-SOURCE-
(As amended Apr. 1, 1979, eff. Aug. 1, 1979; Mar. 10, 1986, eff.
July 1, 1986; Apr. 22, 1993, eff. Dec. 1, 1993; Apr. 24, 1998, eff.
Dec. 1, 1998.)
-MISC1-
NOTES OF ADVISORY COMMITTEE ON RULES - 1967
Subdivision (a). All that is involved in the docketing of an
appeal is the payment of the docket fee. In practice, after the
clerk of the court of appeals receives the record from the clerk of
the district court he notifies the appellant of its receipt and
requests payment of the fee. Upon receipt of the fee, the clerk
enters the appeal upon the docket and files the record. The
appellant is allowed to pay the fee at any time within the time
allowed or fixed for transmission of the record and thereby to
discharge his responsibility for docketing. The final sentence is
added in the interest of facilitating future reference and citation
and location of cases in indexes. Compare 3d Cir. Rule 10(2); 4th
Cir. Rule 9(8); 6th Cir. Rule 14(1).
Subdivision (c). The rules of the circuits generally permit the
appellee to move for dismissal in the event the appellant fails to
effect timely filing of the record. See 1st Cir. Rule 21(3); 3d
Cir. Rule 21(4); 5th Cir. Rule 16(1); 8th Cir. Rule 7(d).
NOTES OF ADVISORY COMMITTEE ON RULES - 1979 AMENDMENT
Subdivision (a). Under present Rule 12(a) the appellant must pay
the docket fee within the time fixed for the transmission of the
record, and upon timely payment of the fee, the appeal is docketed.
The proposed amendment takes the docketing out of the hands of the
appellant. The fee is paid at the time the notice of appeal is
filed and the appeal is entered on the docket upon receipt of a
copy of the notice of appeal and of the docket entries, which are
sent to the court of appeals under the provisions of Rule 3(d).
This is designed to give the court of appeals control of its docket
at the earliest possible time so that within the limits of its
facilities and personnel it can screen cases for appropriately
different treatment, expedite the proceedings through prehearing
conferences or otherwise, and in general plan more effectively for
the prompt disposition of cases.
Subdivision (b). The proposed amendment conforms the provision to
the changes in Rule 11.
NOTES OF ADVISORY COMMITTEE ON RULES - 1986 AMENDMENT
The amendment to Rule 12(a) is technical. No substantive change
is intended.
NOTES OF ADVISORY COMMITTEE ON RULES - 1993 AMENDMENT
Note to new subdivision (b). This amendment is a companion to the
amendment of Rule 3(c). The Rule 3(c) amendment allows an attorney
who represents more than one party on appeal to "specify" the
appellants by general description rather than by naming them
individually. The requirement added here is that whenever an
attorney files a notice of appeal, the attorney must soon
thereafter file a statement indicating all parties represented on
the appeal by that attorney. Although the notice of appeal is the
jurisdictional document and it must clearly indicate who is
bringing the appeal, the representation statement will be helpful
especially to the court of appeals in identifying the individual
appellants.
The rule allows a court of appeals to require the filing of the
representation statement at some time other than specified in the
rule so that if a court of appeals requires a docketing statement
or appearance form the representation statement may be combined
with it.
COMMITTEE NOTES ON RULES - 1998 AMENDMENT
The language of the rule is amended to make the rule more easily
understood. In addition to changes made to improve the
understanding, the Advisory Committee has changed language to make
style and terminology consistent throughout the appellate rules.
These changes are intended to be stylistic only.
-End-
-CITE-
28 USC APPENDIX TITLE III. REVIEW OF A DECISION
OF THE UNITED STATES TAX COURT 01/06/03
-EXPCITE-
TITLE 28 - APPENDIX
FEDERAL RULES OF APPELLATE PROCEDURE
TITLE III. REVIEW OF A DECISION OF THE UNITED STATES TAX COURT
-HEAD-
TITLE III. REVIEW OF A DECISION OF THE UNITED STATES TAX COURT
-End-
-CITE-
28 USC APPENDIX Rule 13 01/06/03
-EXPCITE-
TITLE 28 - APPENDIX
FEDERAL RULES OF APPELLATE PROCEDURE
TITLE III. REVIEW OF A DECISION OF THE UNITED STATES TAX COURT
-HEAD-
Rule 13. Review of a Decision of the Tax Court
-STATUTE-
(a) How Obtained; Time for Filing Notice of Appeal.
(1) Review of a decision of the United States Tax Court is
commenced by filing a notice of appeal with the Tax Court clerk
within 90 days after the entry of the Tax Court's decision. At
the time of filing, the appellant must furnish the clerk with
enough copies of the notice to enable the clerk to comply with
Rule 3(d). If one party files a timely notice of appeal, any
other party may file a notice of appeal within 120 days after the
Tax Court's decision is entered.
(2) If, under Tax Court rules, a party makes a timely motion to
vacate or revise the Tax Court's decision, the time to file a
notice of appeal runs from the entry of the order disposing of
the motion or from the entry of a new decision, whichever is
later.
(b) Notice of Appeal; How Filed. The notice of appeal may be
filed either at the Tax Court clerk's office in the District of
Columbia or by mail addressed to the clerk. If sent by mail the
notice is considered filed on the postmark date, subject to Sec.
7502 of the Internal Revenue Code, as amended, and the applicable
regulations.
(c) Contents of the Notice of Appeal; Service; Effect of Filing
and Service. Rule 3 prescribes the contents of a notice of appeal,
the manner of service, and the effect of its filing and service.
Form 2 in the Appendix of Forms is a suggested form of a notice of
appeal.
(d) The Record on Appeal; Forwarding; Filing.
(1) An appeal from the Tax Court is governed by the parts of
Rules 10, 11, and 12 regarding the record on appeal from a
district court, the time and manner of forwarding and filing, and
the docketing in the court of appeals. References in those rules
and in Rule 3 to the district court and district clerk are to be
read as referring to the Tax Court and its clerk.
(2) If an appeal from a Tax Court decision is taken to more
than one court of appeals, the original record must be sent to
the court named in the first notice of appeal filed. In an appeal
to any other court of appeals, the appellant must apply to that
other court to make provision for the record.
-SOURCE-
(As amended Apr. 1, 1979, eff. Aug. 1, 1979; Apr. 29, 1994, eff.
Dec. 1, 1994; Apr. 24, 1998, eff. Dec. 1, 1998.)
-MISC1-
NOTES OF ADVISORY COMMITTEE ON RULES - 1967
Subdivision (a). This subdivision effects two changes in practice
respecting review of Tax Court decisions: (1) Section 7483 of the
Internal Revenue Code, 68A Stat. 891, 26 U.S.C. Sec. 7483, provides
that review of a Tax Court decision may be obtained by filing a
petition for review. The subdivision provides for review by the
filing of the simple and familiar notice of appeal used to obtain
review of district court judgments; (2) Section 7483, supra,
requires that a petition for review be filed within 3 months after
a decision is rendered, and provides that if a petition is so filed
by one party, any other party may file a petition for review within
4 months after the decision is rendered. In the interest of fixing
the time for review with precision, the proposed rule substitutes
"90 days" and "120 days" for the statutory "3 months" and "4
months", respectively. The power of the Court to regulate these
details of practice is clear. Title 28 U.S.C. Sec. 2072, as amended
by the Act of November 6, 1966, 80 Stat. 1323 (1 U.S. Code Cong. &
Ad. News, p. 1546 (1966)), authorizes the Court to regulate ". . .
practice and procedure in proceedings for the review by the courts
of appeals of decisions of the Tax Court of the United States. . .
."
The second paragraph states the settled teaching of the case law.
See Robert Louis Stevenson Apartments, Inc. v. C.I.R., 337 F.2d
681, 10 A.L.R.3d 112 (8th Cir., 1964); Denholm & McKay Co. v.
C.I.R., 132 F.2d 243 (1st Cir., 1942); Helvering v. Continental Oil
Co., 63 App.D.C. 5, 68 F.2d 750 (1934); Burnet v. Lexington Ice &
Coal Co., 62 F.2d 906 (4th Cir., 1933); Griffiths v. C.I.R., 50
F.2d 782 (7th Cir., 1931).
Subdivision (b). The subdivision incorporates the statutory
provision (Title 26, U.S.C. Sec. 7502) that timely mailing is to be
treated as timely filing. The statute contains special provisions
respecting other than ordinary mailing. If the notice of appeal is
sent by registered mail, registration is deemed prima facie
evidence that the notice was delivered to the clerk of the Tax
Court, and the date of registration is deemed the postmark date. If
the notice of appeal is sent by certified mail, the effect of
certification with respect to prima facie evidence of delivery and
the postmark date depends upon regulations of the Secretary of the
Treasury. The effect of a postmark made other than by the United
States Post Office likewise depends upon regulations of the
Secretary. Current regulations are found in 26 CFR Sec. 301.7502-1.
NOTES OF ADVISORY COMMITTEE ON RULES - 1979 AMENDMENT
The proposed amendment reflects the change in the title of the
Tax Court to "United States Tax Court." See 26 U.S.C. Sec. 7441.
NOTES OF ADVISORY COMMITTEE ON RULES - 1994 AMENDMENT
Subdivision (a). The amendment requires a party filing a notice
of appeal to provide the court with sufficient copies of the notice
for service on all other parties.
COMMITTEE NOTES ON RULES - 1998 AMENDMENT
The language and organization of the rule are amended to make the
rule more easily understood. In addition to changes made to improve
the understanding, the Advisory Committee has changed language to
make style and terminology consistent throughout the appellate
rules. These changes are intended to be stylistic only.
-REFTEXT-
REFERENCES IN TEXT
Section 7502 of the Internal Revenue Code, referred to in subd.
(b), is classified to section 112 of Title 26, Internal Revenue
Code.
-End-
-CITE-
28 USC APPENDIX Rule 14 01/06/03
-EXPCITE-
TITLE 28 - APPENDIX
FEDERAL RULES OF APPELLATE PROCEDURE
TITLE III. REVIEW OF A DECISION OF THE UNITED STATES TAX COURT
-HEAD-
Rule 14. Applicability of Other Rules to the Review of a Tax Court
Decision
-STATUTE-
All provisions of these rules, except Rules 4-9, 15-20, and
22-23, apply to the review of a Tax Court decision.
-SOURCE-
(As amended Apr. 24, 1998, eff. Dec. 1, 1998.)
-MISC1-
NOTES OF ADVISORY COMMITTEE ON RULES - 1967
The proposed rule continues the present uniform practice of the
circuits of regulating review of decisions of the Tax Court by the
general rules applicable to appeals from judgments of the district
courts.
COMMITTEE NOTES ON RULES - 1998 AMENDMENT
The language of the rule is amended to make the rule more easily
understood. In addition to changes made to improve the
understanding, the Advisory Committee has changed language to make
style and terminology consistent throughout the appellate rules.
These changes are intended to be stylistic only.
-End-
-CITE-
28 USC APPENDIX TITLE IV. REVIEW OR ENFORCEMENT
OF AN ORDER OF AN ADMINISTRATIVE AGENCY,
BOARD, COMMISSION, OR OFFICER 01/06/03
-EXPCITE-
TITLE 28 - APPENDIX
FEDERAL RULES OF APPELLATE PROCEDURE
TITLE IV. REVIEW OR ENFORCEMENT OF AN ORDER OF AN ADMINISTRATIVE
AGENCY, BOARD, COMMISSION, OR OFFICER
-HEAD-
TITLE IV. REVIEW OR ENFORCEMENT OF AN ORDER OF AN ADMINISTRATIVE
AGENCY, BOARD, COMMISSION, OR OFFICER
-End-
-CITE-
28 USC APPENDIX Rule 15 01/06/03
-EXPCITE-
TITLE 28 - APPENDIX
FEDERAL RULES OF APPELLATE PROCEDURE
TITLE IV. REVIEW OR ENFORCEMENT OF AN ORDER OF AN ADMINISTRATIVE
AGENCY, BOARD, COMMISSION, OR OFFICER
-HEAD-
Rule 15. Review or Enforcement of an Agency Order - How Obtained;
Intervention
-STATUTE-
(a) Petition for Review; Joint Petition.
(1) Review of an agency order is commenced by filing, within
the time prescribed by law, a petition for review with the clerk
of a court of appeals authorized to review the agency order. If
their interests make joinder practicable, two or more persons may
join in a petition to the same court to review the same order.
(2) The petition must:
(A) name each party seeking review either in the caption or
the body of the petition - using such terms as "et al.,"
"petitioners," or "respondents" does not effectively name the
parties;
(B) name the agency as a respondent (even though not named in
the petition, the United States is a respondent if required by
statute); and
(C) specify the order or part thereof to be reviewed.
(3) Form 3 in the Appendix of Forms is a suggested form of a
petition for review.
(4) In this rule "agency" includes an agency, board,
commission, or officer; "petition for review" includes a petition
to enjoin, suspend, modify, or otherwise review, or a notice of
appeal, whichever form is indicated by the applicable statute.
(b) Application or Cross-Application to Enforce an Order; Answer;
Default.
(1) An application to enforce an agency order must be filed
with the clerk of a court of appeals authorized to enforce the
order. If a petition is filed to review an agency order that the
court may enforce, a party opposing the petition may file a
cross-application for enforcement.
(2) Within 20 days after the application for enforcement is
filed, the respondent must serve on the applicant an answer to
the application and file it with the clerk. If the respondent
fails to answer in time, the court will enter judgment for the
relief requested.
(3) The application must contain a concise statement of the
proceedings in which the order was entered, the facts upon which
venue is based, and the relief requested.
(c) Service of the Petition or Application. The circuit clerk
must serve a copy of the petition for review, or an application or
cross-application to enforce an agency order, on each respondent as
prescribed by Rule 3(d), unless a different manner of service is
prescribed by statute. At the time of filing, the petitioner must:
(1) serve, or have served, a copy on each party admitted to
participate in the agency proceedings, except for the
respondents;
(2) file with the clerk a list of those so served; and
(3) give the clerk enough copies of the petition or application
to serve each respondent.
(d) Intervention. Unless a statute provides another method, a
person who wants to intervene in a proceeding under this rule must
file a motion for leave to intervene with the circuit clerk and
serve a copy on all parties. The motion - or other notice of
intervention authorized by statute - must be filed within 30 days
after the petition for review is filed and must contain a concise
statement of the interest of the moving party and the grounds for
intervention.
(e) Payment of Fees. When filing any separate or joint petition
for review in a court of appeals, the petitioner must pay the
circuit clerk all required fees.
-SOURCE-
(As amended Apr. 22, 1993, eff. Dec. 1, 1993; Apr. 24, 1998, eff.
Dec. 1, 1998.)
-MISC1-
NOTES OF ADVISORY COMMITTEE ON RULES - 1967
General Note. The power of the Supreme Court to prescribe rules
of practice and procedure for the judicial review or enforcement of
orders of administrative agencies, boards, commissions, and
officers is conferred by 28 U.S.C. Sec. 2072, as amended by the Act
of November 6, 1966, Sec. 1, 80 Stat. 1323 (1 U.S. Code Cong. & Ad.
News, p. 1546 (1966)). Section 11 of the Hobbs Administrative
Orders Review Act of 1950, 64 Stat. 1132, reenacted as 28 U.S.C.
Sec. 2352 (28 U.S.C.A. Sec. 2352 (Suppl. 1966)), repealed by the
Act of November 6, 1966, Sec. 4, supra, directed the courts of
appeals to adopt and promulgate, subject to approval by the
Judicial Conference rules governing practice and procedure in
proceedings to review the orders of boards, commissions and
officers whose orders were made reviewable in the courts of appeals
by the Act. Thereafter, the Judicial Conference approved a uniform
rule, and that rule, with minor variations, is now in effect in all
circuits. Third Circuit Rule 18 is a typical circuit rule, and for
convenience it is referred to as the uniform rule in the notes
which accompany rules under this Title.
Subdivision (a). The uniform rule (see General Note above)
requires that the petition for review contain "a concise statement,
in barest outline, of the nature of the proceedings as to which
relief is sought, the facts upon which venue is based, the grounds
upon which relief is sought, and the relief prayed." That language
is derived from Section 4 of the Hobbs Administrative Orders Review
Act of 1950, 64 Stat. 1130, reenacted as 28 U.S.C. Sec. 2344 (28
U.S.C.A. Sec. 2344 (Suppl. 1966)). A few other statutes also
prescribe the content of the petition, but the great majority are
silent on the point. The proposed rule supersedes 28 U.S.C. Sec.
2344 and other statutory provisions prescribing the form of the
petition for review and permits review to be initiated by the
filing of a simple petition similar in form to the notice of appeal
used in appeals from judgments of district courts. The more
elaborate form of petition for review now required is rarely useful
either to the litigants or to the courts. There is no effective,
reasonable way of obliging petitioners to come to the real issues
before those issues are formulated in the briefs. Other provisions
of this subdivision are derived from sections 1 and 2 of the
uniform rule.
Subdivision (b). This subdivision is derived from sections 3, 4
and 5 of the uniform rule.
Subdivision (c). This subdivision is derived from section 1 of
the uniform rule.
Subdivision (d). This subdivision is based upon section 6 of the
uniform rule. Statutes occasionally permit intervention by the
filing of a notice of intention to intervene. The uniform rule does
not fix a time limit for intervention, and the only time limits
fixed by statute are the 30-day periods found in the Communications
Act Amendments, 1952, Sec. 402(e), 66 Stat. 719, 47 U.S.C. Sec.
402(e), and the Sugar Act of 1948, Sec. 205(d), 61 Stat. 927, 7
U.S.C. Sec. 1115(d).
NOTES OF ADVISORY COMMITTEE ON RULES - 1993 AMENDMENT
Subdivision (a). The amendment is a companion to the amendment of
Rule 3(c). Both Rule 3(c) and Rule 15(a) state that a notice of
appeal or petition for review must name the parties seeking
appellate review. Rule 3(c), however, provides an attorney who
represents more than one party on appeal the flexibility to
describe the parties in general terms rather than naming them
individually. Rule 15(a) does not allow that flexibility; each
petitioner must be named. A petition for review of an agency
decision is the first filing in any court and, therefore, is
analogous to a complaint in which all parties must be named.
Subdivision (e). The amendment adds subdivision (e). Subdivision
(e) parallels Rule 3(e) that requires the payment of fees when
filing a notice of appeal. The omission of such a requirement from
Rule 15 is an apparent oversight. Five circuits have local rules
requiring the payment of such fees, see, e.g., Fifth Cir. Loc. R.
15.1, and Fed. Cir. Loc. R. 15(a)(2).
COMMITTEE NOTES ON RULES - 1998 AMENDMENT
The language and organization of the rule are amended to make the
rule more easily understood. In addition to changes made to improve
the understanding, the Advisory Committee has changed language to
make style and terminology consistent throughout the appellate
rules. These changes are intended to be stylistic only.
-End-
-CITE-
28 USC APPENDIX Rule 15.1 01/06/03
-EXPCITE-
TITLE 28 - APPENDIX
FEDERAL RULES OF APPELLATE PROCEDURE
TITLE IV. REVIEW OR ENFORCEMENT OF AN ORDER OF AN ADMINISTRATIVE
AGENCY, BOARD, COMMISSION, OR OFFICER
-HEAD-
Rule 15.1. Briefs and Oral Argument in a National Labor Relations
Board Proceeding
-STATUTE-
In either an enforcement or a review proceeding, a party adverse
to the National Labor Relations Board proceeds first on briefing
and at oral argument, unless the court orders otherwise.
-SOURCE-
(As added Mar. 10, 1986, eff. July 1, 1986; amended Apr. 24, 1998,
eff. Dec. 1, 1998.)
-MISC1-
NOTES OF ADVISORY COMMITTEE ON RULES - 1986
This rule simply confirms the existing practice in most circuits.
COMMITTEE NOTES ON RULES - 1998 AMENDMENT
The language of the rule is amended to make the rule more easily
understood. In addition to changes made to improve the
understanding, the Advisory Committee has changed language to make
style and terminology consistent throughout the appellate rules.
These changes are intended to be stylistic only.
-End-
-CITE-
28 USC APPENDIX Rule 16 01/06/03
-EXPCITE-
TITLE 28 - APPENDIX
FEDERAL RULES OF APPELLATE PROCEDURE
TITLE IV. REVIEW OR ENFORCEMENT OF AN ORDER OF AN ADMINISTRATIVE
AGENCY, BOARD, COMMISSION, OR OFFICER
-HEAD-
Rule 16. The Record on Review or Enforcement
-STATUTE-
(a) Composition of the Record. The record on review or
enforcement of an agency order consists of:
(1) the order involved;
(2) any findings or report on which it is based; and
(3) the pleadings, evidence, and other parts of the proceedings
before the agency.
(b) Omissions From or Misstatements in the Record. The parties
may at any time, by stipulation, supply any omission from the
record or correct a misstatement, or the court may so direct. If
necessary, the court may direct that a supplemental record be
prepared and filed.
-SOURCE-
(As amended Apr. 24, 1998, eff. Dec. 1, 1998.)
-MISC1-
NOTES OF ADVISORY COMMITTEE ON RULES - 1967
Subdivision (a) is based upon 28 U.S.C. Sec. 2112(b). There is no
distinction between the record compiled in the agency proceeding
and the record on review; they are one and the same. The record in
agency cases is thus the same as that in appeals from the district
court - the original papers, transcripts and exhibits in the
proceeding below. Subdivision (b) is based upon section 8 of the
uniform rule (see General Note following Rule 15).
COMMITTEE NOTES ON RULES - 1998 AMENDMENT
The language and organization of the rule are amended to make the
rule more easily understood. In addition to changes made to improve
the understanding, the Advisory Committee has changed language to
make style and terminology consistent throughout the appellate
rules. These changes are intended to be stylistic only.
-End-
-CITE-
28 USC APPENDIX Rule 17 01/06/03
-EXPCITE-
TITLE 28 - APPENDIX
FEDERAL RULES OF APPELLATE PROCEDURE
TITLE IV. REVIEW OR ENFORCEMENT OF AN ORDER OF AN ADMINISTRATIVE
AGENCY, BOARD, COMMISSION, OR OFFICER
-HEAD-
Rule 17. Filing the Record
-STATUTE-
(a) Agency to File; Time for Filing; Notice of Filing. The agency
must file the record with the circuit clerk within 40 days after
being served with a petition for review, unless the statute
authorizing review provides otherwise, or within 40 days after it
files an application for enforcement unless the respondent fails to
answer or the court orders otherwise. The court may shorten or
extend the time to file the record. The clerk must notify all
parties of the date when the record is filed.
(b) Filing - What Constitutes.
(1) The agency must file:
(A) the original or a certified copy of the entire record or
parts designated by the parties; or
(B) a certified list adequately describing all documents,
transcripts of testimony, exhibits, and other material
constituting the record, or describing those parts designated
by the parties.
(2) The parties may stipulate in writing that no record or
certified list be filed. The date when the stipulation is filed
with the circuit clerk is treated as the date when the record is
filed.
(3) The agency must retain any portion of the record not filed
with the clerk. All parts of the record retained by the agency
are a part of the record on review for all purposes and, if the
court or a party so requests, must be sent to the court
regardless of any prior stipulation.
-SOURCE-
(As amended Apr. 24, 1998, eff. Dec. 1, 1998.)
-MISC1-
NOTES OF ADVISORY COMMITTEE ON RULES - 1967
Subdivision (a). This subdivision is based upon section 7 of the
uniform rule (see General Note following Rule 15). That rule does
not prescribe a time for filing the record in enforcement cases.
Forty days are allowed in order to avoid useless preparation of the
record or certified list in cases where the application for
enforcement is not contested.
Subdivision (b). This subdivision is based upon 28 U.S.C. Sec.
2112 and section 7 of the uniform rule. It permits the agency to
file either the record itself or a certified list of its contents.
It also permits the parties to stipulate against transmission of
designated parts of the record without the fear that an inadvertent
stipulation may "diminish" the record. Finally, the parties may, in
cases where consultation of the record is unnecessary, stipulate
that neither the record nor a certified list of its contents be
filed.
COMMITTEE NOTES ON RULES - 1998 AMENDMENT
The language and organization of the rule are amended to make the
rule more easily understood. In addition to changes made to improve
the understanding, the Advisory Committee has changed language to
make style and terminology consistent throughout the appellate
rules. These changes are intended to be stylistic only; a
substantive change is made, however, in subdivision (b).
Subdivision (b). The current rule provides that when a court of
appeals is asked to review or enforce an agency order, the agency
must file either "the entire record or such parts thereof as the
parties may designate by stipulation filed with the agency" or a
certified list describing the documents, transcripts, exhibits, and
other material constituting the record. If the agency is not filing
a certified list, the current rule requires the agency to file the
entire record unless the parties file a "stipulation" designating
only parts of the record. Such a "stipulation" presumably requires
agreement of the parties as to the parts to be filed. The amended
language in subparagraph (b)(1)(A) permits the agency to file the
entire record or "parts designated by the parties." The new
language permits the filing of less than the entire record even
when the parties do not agree as to which parts should be filed.
Each party can designate the parts that it wants filed; the agency
can then forward the parts designated by each party. In contrast,
paragraph (b)(2) continues to require stipulation, that is
agreement of the parties, that the agency need not file either the
record or a certified list.
-End-
-CITE-
28 USC APPENDIX Rule 18 01/06/03
-EXPCITE-
TITLE 28 - APPENDIX
FEDERAL RULES OF APPELLATE PROCEDURE
TITLE IV. REVIEW OR ENFORCEMENT OF AN ORDER OF AN ADMINISTRATIVE
AGENCY, BOARD, COMMISSION, OR OFFICER
-HEAD-
Rule 18. Stay Pending Review
-STATUTE-
(a) Motion for a Stay.
(1) Initial Motion Before the Agency. A petitioner must
ordinarily move first before the agency for a stay pending review
of its decision or order.
(2) Motion in the Court of Appeals. A motion for a stay may be
made to the court of appeals or one of its judges.
(A) The motion must:
(i) show that moving first before the agency would be
impracticable; or
(ii) state that, a motion having been made, the agency
denied the motion or failed to afford the relief requested
and state any reasons given by the agency for its action.
(B) The motion must also include:
(i) the reasons for granting the relief requested and the
facts relied on;
(ii) originals or copies of affidavits or other sworn
statements supporting facts subject to dispute; and
(iii) relevant parts of the record.
(C) The moving party must give reasonable notice of the
motion to all parties.
(D) The motion must be filed with the circuit clerk and
normally will be considered by a panel of the court. But in an
exceptional case in which time requirements make that procedure
impracticable, the motion may be made to and considered by a
single judge.
(b) Bond. The court may condition relief on the filing of a bond
or other appropriate security.
-SOURCE-
(As amended Apr. 24, 1998, eff. Dec. 1, 1998.)
-MISC1-
NOTES OF ADVISORY COMMITTEE ON RULES - 1967
While this rule has no counterpart in present rules regulating
review of agency proceedings, it merely assimilates the procedure
for obtaining stays in agency proceedings with that for obtaining
stays in appeals from the district courts. The same considerations
which justify the requirement of an initial application to the
district court for a stay pending appeal support the requirement of
an initial application to the agency pending review. See Note
accompanying Rule 8. Title 5, U.S.C. Sec. 705 (5 U.S.C.A. Sec. 705
(1966 Pamphlet)) confers general authority on both agencies and
reviewing courts to stay agency action pending review. Many of the
statutes authorizing review of agency action by the courts of
appeals deal with the question of stays, and at least one, the Act
of June 15, 1936, 49 Stat. 1499 (7 U.S.C. Sec. 10a), prohibits a
stay pending review. The proposed rule in nowise affects such
statutory provisions respecting stays. By its terms, it simply
indicates the procedure to be followed when a stay is sought.
COMMITTEE NOTES ON RULES - 1998 AMENDMENT
The language and organization of the rule are amended to make the
rule more easily understood. In addition to changes made to improve
the understanding, the Advisory Committee has changed language to
make style and terminology consistent throughout the appellate
rules. These changes are intended to be stylistic only.
-End-
-CITE-
28 USC APPENDIX Rule 19 01/06/03
-EXPCITE-
TITLE 28 - APPENDIX
FEDERAL RULES OF APPELLATE PROCEDURE
TITLE IV. REVIEW OR ENFORCEMENT OF AN ORDER OF AN ADMINISTRATIVE
AGENCY, BOARD, COMMISSION, OR OFFICER
-HEAD-
Rule 19. Settlement of a Judgment Enforcing an Agency Order in Part
-STATUTE-
When the court files an opinion directing entry of judgment
enforcing the agency's order in part, the agency must within 14
days file with the clerk and serve on each other party a proposed
judgment conforming to the opinion. A party who disagrees with the
agency's proposed judgment must within 7 days file with the clerk
and serve the agency with a proposed judgment that the party
believes conforms to the opinion. The court will settle the
judgment and direct entry without further hearing or argument.
-SOURCE-
(As amended Mar. 10, 1986, eff. July 1, 1986; Apr. 24, 1998, eff.
Dec. 1, 1998.)
-MISC1-
NOTES OF ADVISORY COMMITTEE ON RULES - 1967
This is section 12 of the uniform rule (see General Note
following Rule 15) with changes in phraseology.
NOTES OF ADVISORY COMMITTEE ON RULES - 1986 AMENDMENT
The deletion of the words "in whole or" is designed to eliminate
delay in the issuance of a judgment when the court of appeals has
either enforced completely the order of an agency or denied
completely such enforcement. In such a clear-cut situation, it
serves no useful purpose to delay the issuance of the judgment
until a proposed judgment is submitted by the agency and reviewed
by the respondent. This change conforms the Rule to the existing
practice in most circuits. Other amendments are technical and no
substantive change is intended.
COMMITTEE NOTES ON RULES - 1998 AMENDMENT
The language of the rule is amended to make the rule more easily
understood. In addition to changes made to improve the
understanding, the Advisory Committee has changed language to make
style and terminology consistent throughout the appellate rules.
These changes are intended to be stylistic only.
-End-
-CITE-
28 USC APPENDIX Rule 20 01/06/03
-EXPCITE-
TITLE 28 - APPENDIX
FEDERAL RULES OF APPELLATE PROCEDURE
TITLE IV. REVIEW OR ENFORCEMENT OF AN ORDER OF AN ADMINISTRATIVE
AGENCY, BOARD, COMMISSION, OR OFFICER
-HEAD-
Rule 20. Applicability of Rules to the Review or Enforcement of an
Agency Order
-STATUTE-
All provisions of these rules, except Rules 3-14 and 22-23, apply
to the review or enforcement of an agency order. In these rules,
"appellant" includes a petitioner or applicant, and "appellee"
includes a respondent.
-SOURCE-
(As amended Apr. 24, 1998, eff. Dec. 1, 1998.)
-MISC1-
NOTES OF ADVISORY COMMITTEE ON RULES - 1967
The proposed rule continues the present uniform practice of the
circuits of regulating agency review or enforcement proceedings by
the general rules applicable to appeals from judgments of the
district courts.
COMMITTEE NOTES ON RULES - 1998 AMENDMENT
The language of the rule is amended to make the rule more easily
understood. In addition to changes made to improve the
understanding, the Advisory Committee has changed language to make
style and terminology consistent throughout the appellate rules.
These changes are intended to be stylistic only.
-End-
-CITE-
28 USC APPENDIX TITLE V. EXTRAORDINARY WRITS 01/06/03
-EXPCITE-
TITLE 28 - APPENDIX
FEDERAL RULES OF APPELLATE PROCEDURE
TITLE V. EXTRAORDINARY WRITS
-HEAD-
TITLE V. EXTRAORDINARY WRITS
-End-
-CITE-
28 USC APPENDIX Rule 21 01/06/03
-EXPCITE-
TITLE 28 - APPENDIX
FEDERAL RULES OF APPELLATE PROCEDURE
TITLE V. EXTRAORDINARY WRITS
-HEAD-
Rule 21. Writs of Mandamus and Prohibition, and Other Extraordinary
Writs
-STATUTE-
(a) Mandamus or Prohibition to a Court: Petition, Filing,
Service, and Docketing.
(1) A party petitioning for a writ of mandamus or prohibition
directed to a court must file a petition with the circuit clerk
with proof of service on all parties to the proceeding in the
trial court. The party must also provide a copy to the
trial-court judge. All parties to the proceeding in the trial
court other than the petitioner are respondents for all purposes.
(2)(A) The petition must be titled "In re [name of
petitioner]."
(B) The petition must state:
(i) the relief sought;
(ii) the issues presented;
(iii) the facts necessary to understand the issue presented
by the petition; and
(iv) the reasons why the writ should issue.
(C) The petition must include a copy of any order or opinion or
parts of the record that may be essential to understand the
matters set forth in the petition.
(3) Upon receiving the prescribed docket fee, the clerk must
docket the petition and submit it to the court.
(b) Denial; Order Directing Answer; Briefs; Precedence.
(1) The court may deny the petition without an answer.
Otherwise, it must order the respondent, if any, to answer within
a fixed time.
(2) The clerk must serve the order to respond on all persons
directed to respond.
(3) Two or more respondents may answer jointly.
(4) The court of appeals may invite or order the trial-court
judge to address the petition or may invite an amicus curiae to
do so. The trial-court judge may request permission to address
the petition but may not do so unless invited or ordered to do so
by the court of appeals.
(5) If briefing or oral argument is required, the clerk must
advise the parties, and when appropriate, the trial-court judge
or amicus curiae.
(6) The proceeding must be given preference over ordinary civil
cases.
(7) The circuit clerk must send a copy of the final disposition
to the trial-court judge.
(c) Other Extraordinary Writs. An application for an
extraordinary writ other than one provided for in Rule 21(a) must
be made by filing a petition with the circuit clerk with proof of
service on the respondents. Proceedings on the application must
conform, so far as is practicable, to the procedures prescribed in
Rule 21(a) and (b).
(d) Form of Papers; Number of Copies. All papers must conform to
Rule 32(c)(2). Except by the court's permission, a paper must not
exceed 30 pages, exclusive of the disclosure statement, the proof
of service, and the accompanying documents required by Rule
21(a)(2)(C). An original and 3 copies must be filed unless the
court requires the filing of a different number by local rule or by
order in a particular case.
-SOURCE-
(As amended Apr. 29, 1994, eff. Dec. 1, 1994; Apr. 23, 1996, eff.
Dec. 1, 1996; Apr. 24, 1998, eff. Dec. 1, 1998; Apr. 29, 2002, eff.
Dec. 1, 2002.)
-MISC1-
NOTES OF ADVISORY COMMITTEE ON RULES - 1967
The authority of courts of appeals to issue extraordinary writs
is derived from 28 U.S.C. Sec. 1651. Subdivisions (a) and (b)
regulate in detail the procedure surrounding the writs most
commonly sought - mandamus or prohibition directed to a judge or
judges. Those subdivisions are based upon Supreme Court Rule 31,
with certain changes which reflect the uniform practice among the
circuits (Seventh Circuit Rule 19 is a typical circuit rule).
Subdivision (c) sets out a very general procedure to be followed in
applications for the variety of other writs which may be issued
under the authority of 28 U.S.C. Sec. 1651.
NOTES OF ADVISORY COMMITTEE ON RULES - 1994 AMENDMENT
Subdivision (d). The amendment makes it clear that a court may
require a different number of copies either by rule or by order in
an individual case. The number of copies of any document that a
court of appeals needs varies depending upon the way in which the
court conducts business. The internal operation of the courts of
appeals necessarily varies from circuit to circuit because of
differences in the number of judges, the geographic area included
within the circuit, and other such factors. Uniformity could be
achieved only by setting the number of copies artificially high so
that parties in all circuits file enough copies to satisfy the
needs of the court requiring the greatest number. Rather than do
that, the Committee decided to make it clear that local rules may
require a greater or lesser number of copies and that, if the
circumstances of a particular case indicate the need for a
different number of copies in that case, the court may so order.
NOTES OF ADVISORY COMMITTEE ON RULES - 1996 AMENDMENT
In most instances, a writ of mandamus or prohibition is not
actually directed to a judge in any more personal way than is an
order reversing a court's judgment. Most often a petition for a
writ of mandamus seeks review of the intrinsic merits of a judge's
action and is in reality an adversary proceeding between the
parties. See, e.g., Walker v. Columbia Broadcasting System, Inc.,
443 F.2d 33 (7th Cir. 1971). In order to change the tone of the
rule and of mandamus proceedings generally, the rule is amended so
that the judge is not treated as a respondent. The caption and
subdivision (a) are amended by deleting the reference to the writs
as being "directed to a judge or judges."
Subdivision (a). Subdivision (a) applies to writs of mandamus or
prohibition directed to a court, but it is amended so that a
petition for a writ of mandamus or prohibition does not bear the
name of the judge. The amendments to subdivision (a) speak,
however, about mandamus or prohibition "directed to a court." This
language is inserted to distinguish subdivision (a) from
subdivision (c). Subdivision (c) governs all other extraordinary
writs, including a writ of mandamus or prohibition directed to an
administrative agency rather than to a court and a writ of habeas
corpus.
The amendments require the petitioner to provide a copy of the
petition to the trial court judge. This will alert the judge to the
filing of the petition. This is necessary because the trial court
judge is not treated as a respondent and, as a result, is not
served. A companion amendment is made in subdivision (b). It
requires the circuit clerk to send a copy of the disposition of the
petition to the trial court judge.
Subdivision (b). The amendment provides that even if relief is
requested of a particular judge, although the judge may request
permission to respond, the judge may not do so unless the court
invites or orders a response.
The court of appeals ordinarily will be adequately informed not
only by the opinions or statements made by the trial court judge
contemporaneously with the entry of the challenged order but also
by the arguments made on behalf of the party opposing the relief.
The latter does not create an attorney-client relationship between
the party's attorney and the judge whose action is challenged, nor
does it give rise to any right to compensation from the judge.
If the court of appeals desires to hear from the trial court
judge, however, the court may invite or order the judge to respond.
In some instances, especially those involving court administration
or the failure of a judge to act, it may be that no one other than
the judge can provide a thorough explanation of the matters at
issue. Because it is ordinarily undesirable to place the trial
court judge, even temporarily, in an adversarial posture with a
litigant, the rule permits a court of appeals to invite an amicus
curiae to provide a response to the petition. In those instances in
which the respondent does not oppose issuance of the writ or does
not have sufficient perspective on the issue to provide an adequate
response, participation of an amicus may avoid the need for the
trial judge to participate.
Subdivision (c). The changes are stylistic only. No substantive
changes are intended.
COMMITTEE NOTES ON RULES - 1998 AMENDMENT
The language and organization of the rule are amended to make the
rule more easily understood. In addition to changes made to improve
the understanding, the Advisory Committee has changed language to
make style and terminology consistent throughout the appellate
rules. These changes are intended to be stylistic only.
COMMITTEE NOTES ON RULES - 2002 AMENDMENT
Subdivision (d). A petition for a writ of mandamus or
prohibition, an application for another extraordinary writ, and an
answer to such a petition or application are all "other papers" for
purposes of Rule 32(c)(2), and all of the requirements of Rule
32(a) apply to those papers, except as provided in Rule 32(c)(2).
During the 1998 restyling of the Federal Rules of Appellate
Procedure, Rule 21(d) was inadvertently changed to suggest that
only the requirements of Rule 32(a)(1) apply to such papers. Rule
21(d) has been amended to correct that error.
Rule 21(d) has been further amended to limit the length of papers
filed under Rule 21.
Changes Made After Publication and Comments. No changes were made
to the text of the proposed amendment or to the Committee Note,
except that the page limit was increased from 20 pages to 30 pages.
The Committee was persuaded by some commentators that petitions for
extraordinary writs closely resemble principal briefs on the merits
and should be allotted more than 20 pages.
-End-
-CITE-
28 USC APPENDIX TITLE VI. HABEAS CORPUS;
PROCEEDINGS IN FORMA PAUPERIS 01/06/03
-EXPCITE-
TITLE 28 - APPENDIX
FEDERAL RULES OF APPELLATE PROCEDURE
TITLE VI. HABEAS CORPUS; PROCEEDINGS IN FORMA PAUPERIS
-HEAD-
TITLE VI. HABEAS CORPUS; PROCEEDINGS IN FORMA PAUPERIS
-End-
-CITE-
28 USC APPENDIX Rule 22 01/06/03
-EXPCITE-
TITLE 28 - APPENDIX
FEDERAL RULES OF APPELLATE PROCEDURE
TITLE VI. HABEAS CORPUS; PROCEEDINGS IN FORMA PAUPERIS
-HEAD-
Rule 22. Habeas Corpus and Section 2255 Proceedings
-STATUTE-
(a) Application for the Original Writ. An application for a writ
of habeas corpus must be made to the appropriate district court. If
made to a circuit judge, the application must be transferred to the
appropriate district court. If a district court denies an
application made or transferred to it, renewal of the application
before a circuit judge is not permitted. The applicant may, under
28 U.S.C. Sec. 2253, appeal to the court of appeals from the
district court's order denying the application.
(b) Certificate of Appealability.
(1) In a habeas corpus proceeding in which the detention
complained of arises from process issued by a state court, or in
a 28 U.S.C. Sec. 2255 proceeding, the applicant cannot take an
appeal unless a circuit justice or a circuit or district judge
issues a certificate of appealability under 28 U.S.C. Sec.
2253(c). If an applicant files a notice of appeal, the district
judge who rendered the judgment must either issue a certificate
of appealability or state why a certificate should not issue. The
district clerk must send the certificate or statement to the
court of appeals with the notice of appeal and the file of the
district-court proceedings. If the district judge has denied the
certificate, the applicant may request a circuit judge to issue
the certificate.
(2) A request addressed to the court of appeals may be
considered by a circuit judge or judges, as the court prescribes.
If no express request for a certificate is filed, the notice of
appeal constitutes a request addressed to the judges of the court
of appeals.
(3) A certificate of appealability is not required when a state
or its representative or the United States or its representative
appeals.
-SOURCE-
(As amended Pub. L. 104-132, title I, Sec. 103, Apr. 24, 1996, 110
Stat. 1218; Apr. 24, 1998, eff. Dec. 1, 1998.)
-MISC1-
NOTES OF ADVISORY COMMITTEE ON RULES - 1967
Subdivision (a). Title 28 U.S.C. Sec. 2241(a) authorizes circuit
judges to issue the writ of habeas corpus. Section 2241(b),
however, authorizes a circuit judge to decline to entertain an
application and to transfer it to the appropriate district court,
and this is the usual practice. The first two sentences merely make
present practice explicit. Title 28 U.S.C. Sec. 2253 seems clearly
to contemplate that once an application is presented to a district
judge and is denied by him, the remedy is an appeal from the order
of denial. But the language of 28 U.S.C. Sec. 2241 seems to
authorize a second original application to a circuit judge
following a denial by a district judge. In re Gersing, 79
U.S.App.D.C. 245, 145 F.2d 481 (D.C. Cir., 1944) and Chapman v.
Teets, 241 F.2d 186 (9th Cir., 1957) acknowledge the availability
of such a procedure. But the procedure is ordinarily a waste of
time for all involved, and the final sentence attempts to
discourage it.
A court of appeals has no jurisdiction as a court to grant an
original writ of habeas corpus, and courts of appeals have
dismissed applications addressed to them. Loum v. Alvis, 263 F.2d
836 (6th Cir., 1959); In re Berry, 221 F.2d 798 (9th Cir., 1955);
Posey v. Dowd, 134 F.2d 613 (7th Cir., 1943). The fairer and more
expeditious practice is for the court of appeals to regard an
application addressed to it as being addressed to one of its
members, and to transfer the application to the appropriate
district court in accordance with the provisions of this rule.
Perhaps such a disposition is required by the rationale of In re
Burwell, 350 U.S. 521, 76 S.Ct. 539, 100 L.Ed. 666 (1956).
Subdivision (b). Title 28 U.S.C. Sec. 2253 provides that an
appeal may not be taken in a habeas corpus proceeding where
confinement is under a judgment of a state court unless the judge
who rendered the order in the habeas corpus proceeding, or a
circuit justice or judge, issues a certificate of probable cause.
In the interest of insuring that the matter of the certificate will
not be overlooked and that, if the certificate is denied, the
reasons for denial in the first instance will be available on any
subsequent application, the proposed rule requires the district
judge to issue the certificate or to state reasons for its denial.
While 28 U.S.C. Sec. 2253 does not authorize the court of appeals
as a court to grant a certificate of probable cause, In re Burwell,
350 U.S. 521, 76 S.Ct. 539, 100 L.Ed. 666 (1956) makes it clear
that a court of appeals may not decline to consider a request for
the certificate addressed to it as a court but must regard the
request as made to the judges thereof. The fourth sentence
incorporates the Burwell rule.
Although 28 U.S.C. Sec. 2253 appears to require a certificate of
probable cause even when an appeal is taken by a state or its
representative, the legislative history strongly suggests that the
intention of Congress was to require a certificate only in the case
in which an appeal is taken by an applicant for the writ. See
United States ex rel. Tillery v. Cavell, 294 F.2d 12 (3d Cir.,
1960). Four of the five circuits which have ruled on the point have
so interpreted section 2253. United States ex rel. Tillery v.
Cavell, supra; Buder v. Bell, 306 F.2d 71 (6th Cir., 1962); United
States ex rel. Calhoun v. Pate, 341 F.2d 885 (7th Cir., 1965);
State of Texas v. Graves, 352 F.2d 514 (5th Cir., 1965). Cf. United
States ex rel. Carrol v. LaVallee, 342 F.2d 641 (2d Cir., 1965).
The final sentence makes it clear that a certificate of probable
cause is not required of a state or its representative.
COMMITTEE NOTES ON RULES - 1998 AMENDMENT
The language and organization of the rule are amended to make the
rule more easily understood. In addition to changes made to improve
the understanding, the Advisory Committee has changed language to
make style and terminology consistent throughout the appellate
rules. These changes are intended to be stylistic only; in this
rule, however, substantive changes are made in paragraphs (b)(1)
and (b)(3).
Subdivision (b), paragraph (1). Two substantive changes are made
in this paragraph. First, the paragraph is made applicable to 28
U.S.C. Sec. 2255 proceedings. This brings the rule into conformity
with 28 U.S.C. Sec. 2253 as amended by the Anti-Terrorism and
Effective Death Penalty Act of 1996, Pub. L. No. 104-132. Second,
the rule states that a certificate of appealability may be issued
by "a circuit justice or a circuit or district judge." That
language adds a reference to the circuit justice which also brings
the rule into conformity with section 2253. The language continues
to state that in addition to the circuit justice, both a circuit
and a district judge may issue a certificate of appealability. The
language of section 2253 is ambiguous; it states that a certificate
of appealability may be issued by "a circuit justice or judge."
Since the enactment of the Anti-Terrorism and Effective Death
Penalty Act, three circuits have held that both district and
circuit judges, as well as the circuit justice, may issue a
certificate of appealability. Else v. Johnson, 104 F.3d 82 (5th
Cir. 1997); Lyons v. Ohio Adult Parole Authority, 105 F.3d 1063
(6th Cir. 1997); and Hunter v. United States, 101 F.3d 1565 (11th
Cir. 1996). The approach taken by the rule is consistent with those
decisions.
Subdivision (b), paragraph (3). The Anti-Terrorism and Effective
Death Penalty Act of 1996, Pub. L. No. 104-132, amended 28 U.S.C.
Sec. 2253 to make it applicable to Sec. 2255 proceedings.
Accordingly, paragraph (3) is amended to provide that when the
United States or its representative appeals, a certificate of
appealability is not required.
AMENDMENT BY PUBLIC LAW
1996 - Pub. L. 104-132 inserted "and section 2255" after "corpus"
in catchline and amended text generally. Prior to amendment, text
read as follows:
"(a) Application for the original writ. - An application for a
writ of habeas corpus shall be made to the appropriate district
court. If application is made to a circuit judge, the application
will ordinarily be transferred to the appropriate district court.
If an application is made to or transferred to the district court
and denied, renewal of the application before a circuit judge is
not favored; the proper remedy is by appeal to the court of appeals
from the order of the district court denying the writ.
"(b) Necessity of certificate of probable cause for appeal. - In
a habeas corpus proceeding in which the detention complained of
arises out of process issued by a state court, an appeal by the
applicant for the writ may not proceed unless a district or a
circuit judge issues a certificate of probable cause. If an appeal
is taken by the applicant, the district judge who rendered the
judgment shall either issue a certificate of probable cause or
state the reasons why such a certificate should not issue. The
certificate or the statement shall be forwarded to the court of
appeals with the notice of appeal and the file of the proceedings
in the district court. If the district judge has denied the
certificate, the applicant for the writ may then request issuance
of the certificate by a circuit judge. If such a request is
addressed to the court of appeals, it shall be deemed addressed to
the judges thereof and shall be considered by a circuit judge or
judges as the court deems appropriate. If no express request for a
certificate is filed, the notice of appeal shall be deemed to
constitute a request addressed to the judges of the court of
appeals. If an appeal is taken by a state or its representative, a
certificate of probable cause is not required."
-End-
-CITE-
28 USC APPENDIX Rule 23 01/06/03
-EXPCITE-
TITLE 28 - APPENDIX
FEDERAL RULES OF APPELLATE PROCEDURE
TITLE VI. HABEAS CORPUS; PROCEEDINGS IN FORMA PAUPERIS
-HEAD-
Rule 23. Custody or Release of a Prisoner in a Habeas Corpus
Proceeding
-STATUTE-
(a) Transfer of Custody Pending Review. Pending review of a
decision in a habeas corpus proceeding commenced before a court,
justice, or judge of the United States for the release of a
prisoner, the person having custody of the prisoner must not
transfer custody to another unless a transfer is directed in
accordance with this rule. When, upon application, a custodian
shows the need for a transfer, the court, justice, or judge
rendering the decision under review may authorize the transfer and
substitute the successor custodian as a party.
(b) Detention or Release Pending Review of Decision Not to
Release. While a decision not to release a prisoner is under
review, the court or judge rendering the decision, or the court of
appeals, or the Supreme Court, or a judge or justice of either
court, may order that the prisoner be:
(1) detained in the custody from which release is sought;
(2) detained in other appropriate custody; or
(3) released on personal recognizance, with or without surety.
(c) Release Pending Review of Decision Ordering Release. While a
decision ordering the release of a prisoner is under review, the
prisoner must - unless the court or judge rendering the decision,
or the court of appeals, or the Supreme Court, or a judge or
justice of either court orders otherwise - be released on personal
recognizance, with or without surety.
(d) Modification of the Initial Order on Custody. An initial
order governing the prisoner's custody or release, including any
recognizance or surety, continues in effect pending review unless
for special reasons shown to the court of appeals or the Supreme
Court, or to a judge or justice of either court, the order is
modified or an independent order regarding custody, release, or
surety is issued.
-SOURCE-
(As amended Mar. 10, 1986, eff. July 1, 1986; Apr. 24, 1998, eff.
Dec. 1, 1998.)
-MISC1-
NOTES OF ADVISORY COMMITTEE ON RULES - 1967
The rule is the same as Supreme Court Rule 49, as amended on June
12, 1967, effective October 2, 1967.
NOTES OF ADVISORY COMMITTEE ON RULES - 1986 AMENDMENT
The amendments to Rules 23(b) and (c) are technical. No
substantive change is intended.
COMMITTEE NOTES ON RULES - 1998 AMENDMENT
The language and organization of the rule are amended to make the
rule more easily understood. In addition to changes made to improve
the understanding, the Advisory Committee has changed language to
make style and terminology consistent throughout the appellate
rules. These changes are intended to be stylistic only.
Subdivison (d). The current rule states that the initial order
governing custody or release "shall govern review" in the court of
appeals. The amended language says that the initial order generally
"continues in effect" pending review.
When Rule 23 was adopted it used the same language as Supreme
Court Rule 49, which then governed custody of prisoners in habeas
corpus proceedings. The "shall govern review" language was drawn
from the Supreme Court Rule. The Supreme Court has since amended
its rule, now Rule 36, to say that the initial order "shall
continue in effect" unless for reasons shown it is modified or a
new order is entered. Rule 23 is amended to similarly state that
the initial order "continues in effect." The new language is
clearer. It removes the possible implication that the initial order
created law of the case, a strange notion to attach to an order
regarding custody or release.
-End-
-CITE-
28 USC APPENDIX Rule 24 01/06/03
-EXPCITE-
TITLE 28 - APPENDIX
FEDERAL RULES OF APPELLATE PROCEDURE
TITLE VI. HABEAS CORPUS; PROCEEDINGS IN FORMA PAUPERIS
-HEAD-
Rule 24. Proceeding in Forma Pauperis
-STATUTE-
(a) Leave to Proceed in Forma Pauperis.
(1) Motion in the District Court. Except as stated in Rule
24(a)(3), a party to a district-court action who desires to
appeal in forma pauperis must file a motion in the district
court. The party must attach an affidavit that:
(A) shows in the detail prescribed by Form 4 of the Appendix
of Forms the party's inability to pay or to give security for
fees and costs;
(B) claims an entitlement to redress; and
(C) states the issues that the party intends to present on
appeal.
(2) Action on the Motion. If the district court grants the
motion, the party may proceed on appeal without prepaying or
giving security for fees and costs, unless a statute provides
otherwise. If the district court denies the motion, it must state
its reasons in writing.
(3) Prior Approval. A party who was permitted to proceed in
forma pauperis in the district-court action, or who was
determined to be financially unable to obtain an adequate defense
in a criminal case, may proceed on appeal in forma pauperis
without further authorization, unless:
(A) the district court - before or after the notice of appeal
is filed - certifies that the appeal is not taken in good faith
or finds that the party is not otherwise entitled to proceed in
forma pauperis and states in writing its reasons for the
certification or finding; or
(B) a statute provides otherwise.
(4) Notice of District Court's Denial. The district clerk must
immediately notify the parties and the court of appeals when the
district court does any of the following:
(A) denies a motion to proceed on appeal in forma pauperis;
(B) certifies that the appeal is not taken in good faith; or
(C) finds that the party is not otherwise entitled to proceed
in forma pauperis.
(5) Motion in the Court of Appeals. A party may file a motion
to proceed on appeal in forma pauperis in the court of appeals
within 30 days after service of the notice prescribed in Rule
24(a)(4). The motion must include a copy of the affidavit filed
in the district court and the district court's statement of
reasons for its action. If no affidavit was filed in the district
court, the party must include the affidavit prescribed by Rule
24(a)(1).
(b) Leave to Proceed in Forma Pauperis on Appeal or Review of an
Administrative-Agency Proceeding. When an appeal or review of a
proceeding before an administrative agency, board, commission, or
officer (including for the purpose of this rule the United States
Tax Court) proceeds directly in a court of appeals, a party may
file in the court of appeals a motion for leave to proceed on
appeal in forma pauperis with an affidavit prescribed by Rule
24(a)(1).
(c) Leave to Use Original Record. A party allowed to proceed on
appeal in forma pauperis may request that the appeal be heard on
the original record without reproducing any part.
-SOURCE-
(As amended Apr. 1, 1979, eff. Aug. 1, 1979; Mar. 10, 1986, eff.
July 1, 1986; Apr. 24, 1998, eff. Dec. 1, 1998; Apr. 29, 2002, eff.
Dec. 1, 2002.)
-MISC1-
NOTES OF ADVISORY COMMITTEE ON RULES - 1967
Subdivision (a). Authority to allow prosecution of an appeal in
forma pauperis is vested in "[a]ny court of the United States" by
28 U.S.C. Sec. 1915(a). The second paragraph of section 1915(a)
seems to contemplate initial application to the district court for
permission to proceed in forma pauperis, and although the circuit
rules are generally silent on the question, the case law requires
initial application to the district court. Hayes v. United States,
258 F.2d 400 (5th Cir., 1958), cert. den. 358 U.S. 856, 79 S.Ct.
87, 3 L.Ed.2d 89 (1958); Elkins v. United States, 250 F.2d 145 (9th
Cir., 1957) see 364 U.S. 206, 80 S.Ct. 1437, 4 L.Ed.2d 1669 (1960);
United States v. Farley, 238 F.2d 575 (2d Cir., 1956) see 354 U.S.
521, 77 S.Ct. 1371, 1 L.Ed.2d 1529 (1957). D.C. Cir. Rule 41(a)
requires initial application to the district court. The content of
the affidavit follows the language of the statute; the requirement
of a statement of the issues comprehends the statutory requirement
of a statement of "the nature of the . . . appeal. . . ." The
second sentence is in accord with the decision in McGann v. United
States, 362 U.S. 309, 80 S.Ct. 725, 4 L.Ed.2d 734 (1960). The
requirement contained in the third sentence has no counterpart in
present circuit rules, but it has been imposed by decision in at
least two circuits. Ragan v. Cox, 305 F.2d 58 (10th Cir., 1962);
United States ex rel. Breedlove v. Dowd, 269 F.2d 693 (7th Cir.,
1959).
The second paragraph permits one whose indigency has been
previously determined by the district court to proceed on appeal in
forma pauperis without the necessity of a redetermination of
indigency, while reserving to the district court its statutory
authority to certify that the appeal is not taken in good faith, 28
U.S.C. Sec. 1915(a), and permitting an inquiry into whether the
circumstances of the party who was originally entitled to proceed
in forma pauperis have changed during the course of the litigation.
Cf. Sixth Circuit Rule 26.
The final paragraph establishes a subsequent motion in the court
of appeals, rather than an appeal from the order of denial or from
the certification of lack of good faith, as the proper procedure
for calling in question the correctness of the action of the
district court. The simple and expeditious motion procedure seems
clearly preferable to an appeal. This paragraph applies only to
applications for leave to appeal in forma pauperis. The order of a
district court refusing leave to initiate an action in the district
court in forma pauperis is reviewable on appeal. See Roberts v.
United States District Court, 339 U.S. 844, 70 S.Ct. 954, 94 L.Ed.
1326 (1950).
Subdivision (b). Authority to allow prosecution in forma pauperis
is vested only in a "court of the United States" (see Note to
subdivision (a), above). Thus in proceedings brought directly in a
court of appeals to review decisions of agencies or of the Tax
Court, authority to proceed in forma pauperis should be sought in
the court of appeals. If initial review of agency action is had in
a district court, an application to appeal to a court of appeals in
forma pauperis from the judgment of the district court is governed
by the provisions of subdivision (a).
NOTES OF ADVISORY COMMITTEE ON RULES - 1979 AMENDMENT
The proposed amendment reflects the change in the title of the
Tax Court to "United States Tax Court." See 26 U.S.C. Sec. 7441.
NOTES OF ADVISORY COMMITTEE ON RULES - 1986 AMENDMENT
The amendments to Rule 24(a) are technical. No substantive change
is intended.
COMMITTEE NOTES ON RULES - 1998 AMENDMENT
The language and organization of the rule are amended to make the
rule more easily understood. In addition to changes made to improve
the understanding, the Advisory Committee has changed language to
make style and terminology consistent throughout the appellate
rules. These changes are intended to be stylistic only. The
Advisory Committee deletes the language in subdivision (c)
authorizing a party proceeding in forma pauperis to file papers in
typewritten form because the authorization is unnecessary. The
rules permit all parties to file typewritten documents.
COMMITTEE NOTES ON RULES - 2002 AMENDMENT
Subdivision (a)(2). Section 804 of the Prison Litigation Reform
Act of 1995 ("PLRA") amended 28 U.S.C. Sec. 1915 to require that
prisoners who bring civil actions or appeals from civil actions
must "pay the full amount of a filing fee." 28 U.S.C. Sec.
1915(b)(1). Prisoners who are unable to pay the full amount of the
filing fee at the time that their actions or appeals are filed are
generally required to pay part of the fee and then to pay the
remainder of the fee in installments. 28 U.S.C. Sec. 1915(b). By
contrast, Rule 24(a)(2) has provided that, after the district court
grants a litigant's motion to proceed on appeal in forma pauperis,
the litigant may proceed "without prepaying or giving security for
fees and costs." Thus, the PLRA and Rule 24(a)(2) appear to be in
conflict.
Rule 24(a)(2) has been amended to resolve this conflict.
Recognizing that future legislation regarding prisoner litigation
is likely, the Committee has not attempted to incorporate into Rule
24 all of the requirements of the current version of 28 U.S.C. Sec.
1915. Rather, the Committee has amended Rule 24(a)(2) to clarify
that the rule is not meant to conflict with anything required by
the PLRA or any other statute.
Subdivision (a)(3). Rule 24(a)(3) has also been amended to
eliminate an apparent conflict with the PLRA. Rule 24(a)(3) has
provided that a party who was permitted to proceed in forma
pauperis in the district court may continue to proceed in forma
pauperis in the court of appeals without further authorization,
subject to certain conditions. The PLRA, by contrast, provides that
a prisoner who was permitted to proceed in forma pauperis in the
district court and who wishes to continue to proceed in forma
pauperis on appeal may not do so "automatically," but must seek
permission. See, e.g., Morgan v. Haro, 112 F.3d 788, 789 (5th Cir.
1997) ("A prisoner who seeks to proceed IFP on appeal must obtain
leave to so proceed despite proceeding IFP in the district
court.").
Rule 24(a)(3) has been amended to resolve this conflict. Again,
recognizing that future legislation regarding prisoner litigation
is likely, the Committee has not attempted to incorporate into Rule
24 all of the requirements of the current version of 28 U.S.C. Sec.
1915. Rather, the Committee has amended Rule 24(a)(3) to clarify
that the rule is not meant to conflict with anything required by
the PLRA or any other statute.
Changes Made After Publication and Comments. No changes were made
to the text of the proposed amendment or to the Committee Note,
except that "a statute provides otherwise" was substituted in place
of "the law requires otherwise" in the text of the rule and
conforming changes (as well as a couple of minor stylistic changes)
were made to the Committee Note.
-End-
-CITE-
28 USC APPENDIX TITLE VII. GENERAL PROVISIONS 01/06/03
-EXPCITE-
TITLE 28 - APPENDIX
FEDERAL RULES OF APPELLATE PROCEDURE
TITLE VII. GENERAL PROVISIONS
-HEAD-
TITLE VII. GENERAL PROVISIONS
-End-
-CITE-
28 USC APPENDIX Rule 25 01/06/03
-EXPCITE-
TITLE 28 - APPENDIX
FEDERAL RULES OF APPELLATE PROCEDURE
TITLE VII. GENERAL PROVISIONS
-HEAD-
Rule 25. Filing and Service
-STATUTE-
(a) Filing.
(1) Filing with the Clerk. A paper required or permitted to be
filed in a court of appeals must be filed with the clerk.
(2) Filing: Method and Timeliness.
(A) In general. Filing may be accomplished by mail addressed
to the clerk, but filing is not timely unless the clerk
receives the papers within the time fixed for filing.
(B) A brief or appendix. A brief or appendix is timely filed,
however, if on or before the last day for filing, it is:
(i) mailed to the clerk by First-Class Mail, or other class
of mail that is at least as expeditious, postage prepaid; or
(ii) dispatched to a third-party commercial carrier for
delivery to the clerk within 3 calendar days.
(C) Inmate filing. A paper filed by an inmate confined in an
institution is timely if deposited in the institution's
internal mailing system on or before the last day for filing.
If an institution has a system designed for legal mail, the
inmate must use that system to receive the benefit of this
rule. Timely filing may be shown by a declaration in compliance
with 28 U.S.C. Sec. 1746 or by a notarized statement, either of
which must set forth the date of deposit and state that
first-class postage has been prepaid.
(D) Electronic filing. A court of appeals may by local rule
permit papers to be filed, signed, or verified by electronic
means that are consistent with technical standards, if any,
that the Judicial Conference of the United States establishes.
A paper filed by electronic means in compliance with a local
rule constitutes a written paper for the purpose of applying
these rules.
(3) Filing a Motion with a Judge. If a motion requests relief
that may be granted by a single judge, the judge may permit the
motion to be filed with the judge; the judge must note the filing
date on the motion and give it to the clerk.
(4) Clerk's Refusal of Documents. The clerk must not refuse to
accept for filing any paper presented for that purpose solely
because it is not presented in proper form as required by these
rules or by any local rule or practice.
(b) Service of All Papers Required. Unless a rule requires
service by the clerk, a party must, at or before the time of filing
a paper, serve a copy on the other parties to the appeal or review.
Service on a party represented by counsel must be made on the
party's counsel.
(c) Manner of Service.
(1) Service may be any of the following:
(A) personal, including delivery to a responsible person at
the office of counsel;
(B) by mail;
(C) by third-party commercial carrier for delivery within 3
calendar days; or
(D) by electronic means, if the party being served consents
in writing.
(2) If authorized by local rule, a party may use the court's
transmission equipment to make electronic service under Rule
25(c)(1)(D).
(3) When reasonable considering such factors as the immediacy
of the relief sought, distance, and cost, service on a party must
be by a manner at least as expeditious as the manner used to file
the paper with the court.
(4) Service by mail or by commercial carrier is complete on
mailing or delivery to the carrier. Service by electronic means
is complete on transmission, unless the party making service is
notified that the paper was not received by the party served.
(d) Proof of Service.
(1) A paper presented for filing must contain either of the
following:
(A) an acknowledgment of service by the person served; or
(B) proof of service consisting of a statement by the person
who made service certifying:
(i) the date and manner of service;
(ii) the names of the persons served; and
(iii) their mail or electronic addresses, facsimile
numbers, or the addresses of the places of delivery, as
appropriate for the manner of service.
(2) When a brief or appendix is filed by mailing or dispatch in
accordance with Rule 25(a)(2)(B), the proof of service must also
state the date and manner by which the document was mailed or
dispatched to the clerk.
(3) Proof of service may appear on or be affixed to the papers
filed.
(e) Number of Copies. When these rules require the filing or
furnishing of a number of copies, a court may require a different
number by local rule or by order in a particular case.
-SOURCE-
(As amended Mar. 10, 1986, eff. July 1, 1986; Apr. 30, 1991, eff.
Dec. 1, 1991; Apr. 22, 1993, eff. Dec. 1, 1993; Apr. 29, 1994, eff.
Dec. 1, 1994; Apr. 23, 1996, eff. Dec. 1, 1996; Apr. 24, 1998, eff.
Dec. 1, 1998; Apr. 29, 2002, eff. Dec. 1, 2002.)
-MISC1-
NOTES OF ADVISORY COMMITTEE ON RULES - 1967
The rule that filing is not timely unless the papers filed are
received within the time allowed is the familiar one. Ward v.
Atlantic Coast Line R.R. Co., 265 F.2d 75 (5th Cir., 1959), rev'd
on other grounds 362 U.S. 396, 80 S.Ct. 789, 4 L.Ed.2d 820 (1960);
Kahler-Ellis Co. v. Ohio Turnpike Commission, 225 F.2d 922 (6th
Cir., 1955). An exception is made in the case of briefs and
appendices in order to afford the parties the maximum time for
their preparation. By the terms of the exception, air mail delivery
must be used whenever it is the most expeditious manner of
delivery.
A majority of the circuits now require service of all papers
filed with the clerk. The usual provision in present rules is for
service on "adverse" parties. In view of the extreme simplicity of
service by mail, there seems to be no reason why a party who files
a paper should not be required to serve all parties to the
proceeding in the court of appeals, whether or not they may be
deemed adverse. The common requirement of proof of service is
retained, but the rule permits it to be made by simple
certification, which may be endorsed on the copy which is filed.
NOTES OF ADVISORY COMMITTEE ON RULES - 1986 AMENDMENT
The amendments to Rules 25(a) and (b) are technical. No
substantive change is intended.
NOTES OF ADVISORY COMMITTEE ON RULES - 1991 AMENDMENT
Subdivision (a). The amendment permits, but does not require,
courts of appeals to adopt local rules that allow filing of papers
by electronic means. However, courts of appeals cannot adopt such
local rules until the Judicial Conference of the United States
authorizes filing by facsimile or other electronic means.
NOTES OF ADVISORY COMMITTEE ON RULES - 1993 AMENDMENT
The amendment accompanies new subdivision (c) of Rule 4 and
extends the holding in Houston v. Lack, 487 U.S. 266 (1988), to all
papers filed in the courts of appeals by persons confined in
institutions.
NOTES OF ADVISORY COMMITTEE ON RULES - 1994 AMENDMENT
Subdivision (a). Several circuits have local rules that authorize
the office of the clerk to refuse to accept for filing papers that
are not in the form required by these rules or by local rules. This
is not a suitable role for the office of the clerk and the practice
exposes litigants to the hazards of time bars; for these reasons,
such rules are proscribed by this rule. This provision is similar
to Fed.R.Civ.P. 5(e) and Fed.R.Bankr.P. 5005.
The Committee wishes to make it clear that the provision
prohibiting a clerk from refusing a document does not mean that a
clerk's office may no longer screen documents to determine whether
they comply with the rules. A court may delegate to the clerk
authority to inform a party about any noncompliance with the rules
and, if the party is willing to correct the document, to determine
a date by which the corrected document must be resubmitted. If a
party refuses to take the steps recommended by the clerk or if in
the clerk's judgment the party fails to correct the noncompliance,
the clerk must refer the matter to the court for a ruling.
Subdivision (d). Two changes have been made in this subdivision.
Subdivision (d) provides that a paper presented for filing must
contain proof of service.
The last sentence of subdivision (d) has been deleted as
unnecessary. That sentence stated that a clerk could permit papers
to be filed without acknowledgment or proof of service but must
require that it be filed promptly thereafter. In light of the
change made in subdivision (a) which states that a clerk may not
refuse to accept for filing a document because it is not in the
proper form, there is no further need for a provision stating that
a clerk may accept a paper lacking a proof of service. The clerk
must accept such a paper. That portion of the deleted sentence
stating that the clerk must require that proof of service be filed
promptly after the filing of the document if the proof is not filed
concurrently with the document is also unnecessary.
The second amendment requires that the certificate of service
must state the addresses to which the papers were mailed or at
which they were delivered. The Federal Circuit has a similar local
rule, Fed.Cir.R. 25.
Subdivision (e). Subdivision (e) is a new subdivision. It makes
it clear that whenever these rules require a party to file or
furnish a number of copies a court may require a different number
of copies either by rule or by order in an individual case. The
number of copies of any document that a court of appeals needs
varies depending upon the way in which the court conducts business.
The internal operation of the courts of appeals necessarily varies
from circuit to circuit because of differences in the number of
judges, the geographic area included within the circuit, and other
such factors. Uniformity could be achieved only by setting the
number of copies artificially high so that parties in all circuits
file enough copies to satisfy the needs of the court requiring the
greatest number. Rather than do that, the Committee decided to make
it clear that local rules may require a greater or lesser number of
copies and that, if the circumstances of a particular case indicate
the need for a different number of copies in that case, the court
may so order.
A party must consult local rules to determine whether the court
requires a different number than that specified in these national
rules. The Committee believes it would be helpful if each circuit
either: 1) included a chart at the beginning of its local rules
showing the number of copies of each document required to be filed
with the court along with citation to the controlling rule; or 2)
made available such a chart to each party upon commencement of an
appeal; or both. If a party fails to file the required number of
copies, the failure does not create a jurisdictional defect. Rule
3(a) states: "Failure of an appellant to take any step other than
the timely filing of a notice of appeal does not affect the
validity of the appeal, but is ground only for such action as the
court of appeals deems appropriate. . . ."
NOTES OF ADVISORY COMMITTEE ON RULES - 1996 AMENDMENT
Subdivision (a). The amendment deletes the language requiring a
party to use "the most expeditious form of delivery by mail, except
special delivery" in order to file a brief using the mailbox rule.
That language was adopted before the Postal Service offered Express
Mail and other expedited delivery services. The amendment makes it
clear that it is sufficient to use First-Class Mail. Other equally
or more expeditious classes of mail service, such as Express Mail,
also may be used. In addition, the amendment permits the use of
commercial carriers. The use of private, overnight courier services
has become commonplace in law practice. Expedited services offered
by commercial carriers often provide faster delivery than
First-Class Mail; therefore, there should be no objection to the
use of commercial carriers as long as they are reliable. In order
to make use of the mailbox rule when using a commercial carrier,
the amendment requires that the filer employ a carrier who
undertakes to deliver the document in no more than three calendar
days. The three-calendar-day period coordinates with the three-day
extension provided by Rule 26(c).
Subdivision (c). The amendment permits service by commercial
carrier if the carrier is to deliver the paper to the party being
served within three days of the carrier's receipt of the paper. The
amendment also expresses a desire that when reasonable, service on
a party be accomplished by a manner as expeditious as the manner
used to file the paper with the court. When a brief or motion is
filed with the court by hand delivering the paper to the clerk's
office, or by overnight courier, the copies should be served on the
other parties by an equally expeditious manner - meaning either by
personal service, if distance permits, or by overnight courier, if
mail delivery to the party is not ordinarily accomplished
overnight. The reasonableness standard is included so that if a
paper is hand delivered to the clerk's office for filing but the
other parties must be served in a different city, state, or region,
personal service on them ordinarily will not be expected. If use of
an equally expeditious manner of service is not reasonable, use of
the next most expeditious manner may be. For example, if the paper
is filed by hand delivery to the clerk's office but the other
parties reside in distant cities, service on them need not be
personal but in most instances should be by overnight courier. Even
that may not be required, however, if the number of parties that
must be served would make the use of overnight service too costly.
A factor that bears upon the reasonableness of serving parties
expeditiously is the immediacy of the relief requested.
Subdivision (d). The amendment adds a requirement that when a
brief or appendix is filed by mail or commercial carrier, the
certificate of service state the date and manner by which the
document was mailed or dispatched to the clerk. Including that
information in the certificate of service avoids the necessity for
a separate certificate concerning the date and manner of filing.
COMMITTEE NOTES ON RULES - 1998 AMENDMENT
The language and organization of the rule are amended to make the
rule more easily understood. In addition to changes made to improve
the understanding, the Advisory Committee has changed language to
make style and terminology consistent throughout the appellate
rules. These changes are intended to be stylistic only; a
substantive amendment is made, however, in subdivision (a).
Subdivision (a). The substantive amendment in this subdivision is
in subparagraph (a)(2)(C) and is a companion to an amendment in
Rule 4(c). Currently Rule 25(a)(2)(C) provides that if an inmate
confined in an institution files a document by depositing it in the
institution's internal mail system, the document is timely filed if
deposited on or before the last day for filing. Some institutions
have special internal mail systems for handling legal mail; such
systems often record the date of deposit of mail by an inmate, the
date of delivery of mail to an inmate, etc. The Advisory Committee
amends the rule to require an inmate to use the system designed for
legal mail, if there is one, in order to receive the benefit of
this subparagraph.
COMMITTEE NOTES ON RULES - 2002 AMENDMENT
Rule 25(a)(2)(D) presently authorizes the courts of appeals to
permit papers to be filed by electronic means. Rule 25 has been
amended in several respects to permit papers also to be served
electronically. In addition, Rule 25(c) has been reorganized and
subdivided to make it easier to understand.
Subdivision (c)(1)(D). New subdivision (c)(1)(D) has been added
to permit service to be made electronically, such as by e-mail or
fax. No party may be served electronically, either by the clerk or
by another party, unless the party has consented in writing to such
service.
A court of appeals may not, by local rule, forbid the use of
electronic service on a party that has consented to its use. At the
same time, courts have considerable discretion to use local rules
to regulate electronic service. Difficult and presently
unforeseeable questions are likely to arise as electronic service
becomes more common. Courts have the flexibility to use their local
rules to address those questions. For example, courts may use local
rules to set forth specific procedures that a party must follow
before the party will be deemed to have given written consent to
electronic service.
Parties also have the flexibility to define the terms of their
consent; a party's consent to electronic service does not have to
be "all-or-nothing." For example, a party may consent to service by
facsimile transmission, but not by electronic mail; or a party may
consent to electronic service only if "courtesy" copies of all
transmissions are mailed within 24 hours; or a party may consent to
electronic service of only documents that were created with Corel
WordPerfect.
Subdivision (c)(2). The courts of appeals are authorized under
Rule 25(a)(2)(D) to permit papers to be filed electronically.
Technological advances may someday make it possible for a court to
forward an electronically filed paper to all parties automatically
or semi-automatically. When such court-facilitated service becomes
possible, courts may decide to permit parties to use the courts'
transmission facilities to serve electronically filed papers on
other parties who have consented to such service. Court personnel
would use the court's computer system to forward the papers, but
the papers would be considered served by the filing parties, just
as papers that are carried from one address to another by the
United States Postal Service are considered served by the sending
parties. New subdivision (c)(2) has been added so that the courts
of appeals may use local rules to authorize such use of their
transmission facilities, as well as to address the many questions
that court-facilitated electronic service is likely to raise.
Subdivision (c)(4). The second sentence of new subdivision (c)(4)
has been added to provide that electronic service is complete upon
transmission. Transmission occurs when the sender performs the last
act that he or she must perform to transmit a paper electronically;
typically, it occurs when the sender hits the "send" or "transmit"
button on an electronic mail program. There is one exception to the
rule that electronic service is complete upon transmission: If the
sender is notified - by the sender's e-mail program or otherwise -
that the paper was not received, service is not complete, and the
sender must take additional steps to effect service. A paper has
been "received" by the party on which it has been served as long as
the party has the ability to retrieve it. A party cannot defeat
service by choosing not to access electronic mail on its server.
Changes Made After Publication and Comments. No changes were made
to the text of the proposed amendment. A paragraph was added to the
Committee Note to clarify that consent to electronic service is not
an "all-or-nothing" matter.
Subdivision (d)(1)(B)(iii). Subdivision (d)(1)(B)(iii) has been
amended to require that, when a paper is served electronically, the
proof of service of that paper must include the electronic address
or facsimile number to which the paper was transmitted.
Changes Made After Publication and Comments. The text of the
proposed amendment was changed to refer to "electronic" addresses
(instead of to "e-mail" addresses), to include "facsimile numbers,"
and to add the concluding phrase "as appropriate for the manner of
service." Conforming changes were made to the Committee Note.
-End-
-CITE-
28 USC APPENDIX Rule 26 01/06/03
-EXPCITE-
TITLE 28 - APPENDIX
FEDERAL RULES OF APPELLATE PROCEDURE
TITLE VII. GENERAL PROVISIONS
-HEAD-
Rule 26. Computing and Extending Time
-STATUTE-
(a) Computing Time. The following rules apply in computing any
period of time specified in these rules or in any local rule, court
order, or applicable statute:
(1) Exclude the day of the act, event, or default that begins
the period.
(2) Exclude intermediate Saturdays, Sundays, and legal holidays
when the period is less than 11 days, unless stated in calendar
days.
(3) Include the last day of the period unless it is a Saturday,
Sunday, legal holiday, or - if the act to be done is filing a
paper in court - a day on which the weather or other conditions
make the clerk's office inaccessible.
(4) As used in this rule, "legal holiday" means New Year's Day,
Martin Luther King, Jr.'s Birthday, Presidents' Day, Memorial
Day, Independence Day, Labor Day, Columbus Day, Veterans' Day,
Thanksgiving Day, Christmas Day, and any other day declared a
holiday by the President, Congress, or the state in which is
located either the district court that rendered the challenged
judgment or order, or the circuit clerk's principal office.
(b) Extending Time. For good cause, the court may extend the time
prescribed by these rules or by its order to perform any act, or
may permit an act to be done after that time expires. But the court
may not extend the time to file:
(1) a notice of appeal (except as authorized in Rule 4) or a
petition for permission to appeal; or
(2) a notice of appeal from or a petition to enjoin, set aside,
suspend, modify, enforce, or otherwise review an order of an
administrative agency, board, commission, or officer of the
United States, unless specifically authorized by law.
(c) Additional Time after Service. When a party is required or
permitted to act within a prescribed period after a paper is served
on that party, 3 calendar days are added to the prescribed period
unless the paper is delivered on the date of service stated in the
proof of service. For purposes of this Rule 26(c), a paper that is
served electronically is not treated as delivered on the date of
service stated in the proof of service.
-SOURCE-
(As amended Mar. 1, 1971, eff. July 1, 1971; Mar. 10, 1986, eff.
July 1, 1986; Apr. 25, 1989, eff. Dec. 1, 1989; Apr. 30, 1991, eff.
Dec. 1, 1991; Apr. 23, 1996, eff. Dec. 1, 1996; Apr. 24, 1998, eff.
Dec. 1, 1998; Apr. 29, 2002, eff. Dec. 1, 2002.)
-MISC1-
NOTES OF ADVISORY COMMITTEE ON RULES - 1967
The provisions of this rule are based upon FRCP 6(a), (b) and
(e). See also Supreme Court Rule 34 and FRCrP 45. Unlike FRCP 6(b),
this rule, read with Rule 27, requires that every request for
enlargement of time be made by motion, with proof of service on all
parties. This is the simplest, most convenient way of keeping all
parties advised of developments. By the terms of Rule 27(b) a
motion for enlargement of time under Rule 26(b) may be entertained
and acted upon immediately, subject to the right of any party to
seek reconsideration. Thus the requirement of motion and notice
will not delay the granting of relief of a kind which a court is
inclined to grant as of course. Specifically, if a court is of the
view that an extension of time sought before expiration of the
period originally prescribed or as extended by a previous order
ought to be granted in effect ex parte, as FRCP 6(b) permits, it
may grant motions seeking such relief without delay.
NOTES OF ADVISORY COMMITTEE ON RULES - 1971 AMENDMENT
The amendment adds Columbus Day to the list of legal holidays to
conform the subdivision to the Act of June 28, 1968, 82 Stat. 250,
which constituted Columbus Day a legal holiday effective after
January 1, 1971.
The Act, which amended Title 5, U.S.C. Sec. 6103(a), changes the
day on which certain holidays are to be observed. Washington's
Birthday, Memorial Day and Veterans Day are to be observed on the
third Monday in February, the last Monday in May and the fourth
Monday in October, respectively, rather than, as heretofore, on
February 22, May 30, and November 11, respectively. Columbus Day is
to be observed on the second Monday in October. New Year's Day,
Independence Day, Thanksgiving Day and Christmas continue to be
observed on the traditional days.
NOTES OF ADVISORY COMMITTEE ON RULES - 1986 AMENDMENT
The Birthday of Martin Luther King, Jr., is added to the list of
national holidays in Rule 26(a). The amendment to Rule 26(c) is
technical. No substantive change is intended.
NOTES OF ADVISORY COMMITTEE ON RULES - 1989 AMENDMENT
The proposed amendment brings Rule 26(a) into conformity with the
provisions of Rule 6(a) of the Rules of Civil Procedure, Rule 45(a)
of the Rules of Criminal Procedure, and Rule 9006(a) of the Rules
of Bankruptcy Procedure which allow additional time for filing
whenever a clerk's office is inaccessible on the last day for
filing due to weather or other conditions.
NOTES OF ADVISORY COMMITTEE ON RULES - 1996 AMENDMENT
The amendment is a companion to the proposed amendments to Rule
25 that permit service on a party by commercial carrier. The
amendments to subdivision (c) of this rule make the three-day
extension applicable not only when service is accomplished by mail,
but whenever delivery to the party being served occurs later than
the date of service stated in the proof of service. When service is
by mail or commercial carrier, the proof of service recites the
date of mailing or delivery to the commercial carrier. If the party
being served receives the paper on a later date, the three-day
extension applies. If the party being served receives the paper on
the same date as the date of service recited in the proof of
service, the three-day extension is not available.
The amendment also states that the three-day extension is three
calendar days. Rule 26(a) states that when a period prescribed or
allowed by the rules is less than seven days, intermediate
Saturdays, Sundays, and legal holidays do not count. Whether the
three-day extension in Rule 26(c) is such a period, meaning that
three-days could actually be five or even six days, is unclear. The
D.C. Circuit recently held that the parallel three-day extension
provided in the Civil Rules is not such a period and that weekends
and legal holidays do count. CNPq v. Inter-Trade, 50 F.3d 56 (D.C.
Cir. 1995). The Committee believes that is the right result and
that the issue should be resolved. Providing that the extension is
three calendar days means that if a period would otherwise end on
Thursday but the three-day extension applies, the paper must be
filed on Monday. Friday, Saturday, and Sunday are the extension
days. Because the last day of the period as extended is Sunday, the
paper must be filed the next day, Monday.
COMMITTEE NOTES ON RULES - 1998 AMENDMENT
The language and organization of the rule are amended to make the
rule more easily understood. In addition to changes made to improve
the understanding, the Advisory Committee has changed language to
make style and terminology consistent throughout the appellate
rules. These changes are intended to be stylistic only; two
substantive changes are made, however, in subdivision (a).
Subdivision (a). First, the amendments make the computation
method prescribed in this rule applicable to any time period
imposed by a local rule. This means that if a local rule
establishing a time limit is permitted, the national rule will
govern the computation of that period.
Second, paragraph (a)(2) includes language clarifying that
whenever the rules establish a time period in "calendar days,"
weekends and legal holidays are counted.
COMMITTEE NOTES ON RULES - 2002 AMENDMENT
Subdivision (a)(2). The Federal Rules of Civil Procedure and the
Federal Rules of Criminal Procedure compute time differently than
the Federal Rules of Appellate Procedure. Fed. R. Civ. P. 6(a) and
Fed. R. Crim. P. 45(a) provide that, in computing any period of
time, "[w]hen the period of time prescribed or allowed is less than
11 days, intermediate Saturdays, Sundays, and legal holidays shall
be excluded in the computation." By contrast, Rule 26(a)(2)
provides that, in computing any period of time, a litigant should
"[e]xclude intermediate Saturdays, Sundays, and legal holidays when
the period is less than 7 days, unless stated in calendar days."
Thus, deadlines of 7, 8, 9, and 10 days are calculated differently
under the rules of civil and criminal procedure than they are under
the rules of appellate procedure. This creates a trap for unwary
litigants. No good reason for this discrepancy is apparent, and
thus Rule 26(a)(2) has been amended so that, under all three sets
of rules, intermediate Saturdays, Sundays, and legal holidays will
be excluded when computing deadlines under 11 days but will be
counted when computing deadlines of 11 days and over.
Changes Made After Publication and Comments. No changes were made
to the text of the proposed amendment or to the Committee Note.
Subdivision (c). Rule 26(c) has been amended to provide that when
a paper is served on a party by electronic means, and that party is
required or permitted to respond to that paper within a prescribed
period, 3 calendar days are added to the prescribed period.
Electronic service is usually instantaneous, but sometimes it is
not, because of technical problems. Also, if a paper is
electronically transmitted to a party on a Friday evening, the
party may not realize that he or she has been served until two or
three days later. Finally, extending the "3-day rule" to electronic
service will encourage parties to consent to such service under
Rule 25(c).
Changes Made After Publication and Comments. No changes were made
to the text of the proposed amendment or to the Committee Note.
-End-
-CITE-
28 USC APPENDIX Rule 26.1 01/06/03
-EXPCITE-
TITLE 28 - APPENDIX
FEDERAL RULES OF APPELLATE PROCEDURE
TITLE VII. GENERAL PROVISIONS
-HEAD-
Rule 26.1. Corporate Disclosure Statement
-STATUTE-
(a) Who Must File. Any nongovernmental corporate party to a
proceeding in a court of appeals must file a statement that
identifies any parent corporation and any publicly held corporation
that owns 10% or more of its stock or states that there is no such
corporation.
(b) Time for Filing; Supplemental Filing. A party must file the
Rule 26.1(a) statement with the principal brief or upon filing a
motion, response, petition, or answer in the court of appeals,
whichever occurs first, unless a local rule requires earlier
filing. Even if the statement has already been filed, the party's
principal brief must include the statement before the table of
contents. A party must supplement its statement whenever the
information that must be disclosed under Rule 26.1(a) changes.
(c) Number of Copies. If the Rule 26.1(a) statement is filed
before the principal brief, or if a supplemental statement is
filed, the party must file an original and 3 copies unless the
court requires a different number by local rule or by order in a
particular case.
-SOURCE-
(As added Apr. 25, 1989, eff. Dec. 1, 1989; and amended Apr. 30,
1991, eff. Dec. 1, 1991; Apr. 29, 1994, eff. Dec. 1, 1994; Apr. 24,
1998, eff. Dec. 1, 1998; Apr. 29, 2002, eff. Dec. 1, 2002.)
-MISC1-
NOTES OF ADVISORY COMMITTEE ON RULES - 1989
The purpose of this rule is to assist judges in making a
determination of whether they have any interests in any of a
party's related corporate entities that would disqualify the judges
from hearing the appeal. The committee believes that this rule
represents minimum disclosure requirements. If a Court of Appeals
wishes to require additional information, a court is free to do so
by local rule. However, the committee requests the courts to
consider the desirability of uniformity and the burden that varying
circuit rules creates on attorneys who practice in many circuits.
NOTES OF ADVISORY COMMITTEE ON RULES - 1994 AMENDMENT
The amendment requires a party to file three copies of the
disclosure statement whenever the statement is filed before the
party's principal brief. Because the statement is included in each
copy of the party's brief, there is no need to require the filing
of additional copies at that time. A court of appeals may require
the filing of a different number of copies by local rule or by
order in a particular case.
COMMITTEE NOTES ON RULES - 1998 AMENDMENT
The language and organization of the rule are amended to make the
rule more easily understood. In addition to changes made to improve
the understanding, the Advisory Committee has changed language to
make style and terminology consistent throughout the appellate
rules. These changes are intended to be stylistic only; a
substantive change is made, however, in subdivision (a).
Subdivison [sic] (a). The amendment deletes the requirement that
a corporate party identify subsidiaries and affiliates that have
issued shares to the public. Although several circuit rules require
identification of such entities, the Committee believes that such
disclosure is unnecessary.
A disclosure statement assists a judge in ascertaining whether or
not the judge has an interest that should cause the judge to recuse
himself or herself from the case. Given that purpose, disclosure of
entities that would not be adversely affected by a decision in the
case is unnecessary.
Disclosure of a party's parent corporation is necessary because a
judgment against a subsidiary can negatively impact the parent. A
judge who owns stock in the parent corporation, therefore, has an
interest in litigation involving the subsidiary. The rule requires
disclosure of all of a party's parent corporations meaning
grandparent and great grandparent corporations as well. For
example, if a party is a closely held corporation, the majority
shareholder of which is a corporation formed by a publicly traded
corporation for the purpose of acquiring and holding the shares of
the party, the publicly traded grandparent corporation should be
disclosed. Conversely, disclosure of a party's subsidiaries or
affiliated corporations is ordinarily unnecessary. For example, if
a party is a part owner of a corporation in which a judge owns
stock, the possibility is quite remote that the judge might be
biased by the fact that the judge and the litigant are co-owners of
a corporation.
The amendment, however, adds a requirement that the party lists
all its stockholders that are publicly held companies owning 10% or
more of the stock of the party. A judgment against a corporate
party can adversely affect the value of the company's stock and,
therefore, persons owning stock in the party have an interest in
the outcome of the litigation. A judge owning stock in a corporate
party ordinarily recuses himself or herself. The new requirement
takes the analysis one step further and assumes that if a judge
owns stock in a publicly held corporation which in turn owns 10% or
more of the stock in the party, the judge may have sufficient
interest in the litigation to require recusal. The 10% threshold
ensures that the corporation in which the judge may own stock is
itself sufficiently invested in the party that a judgment adverse
to the party could have an adverse impact upon the investing
corporation in which the judge may own stock. This requirement is
modeled on the Seventh Circuit's disclosure requirement.
Subdivision (b). The language requiring inclusion of the
disclosure statement in a party's principal brief is moved to this
subdivision because it deals with the time for filing the
statement.
COMMITTEE NOTES ON RULES - 2002 AMENDMENT
a. Alternative One [At its June 7-8, 2001, meeting, the
Committee on Rules of Practice and Procedure voted to reject
Alternative One.]
Subdivision (a). Rule 26.1(a) presently requires nongovernmental
corporate parties to file a "corporate disclosure statement." In
that statement, a nongovernmental corporate party is required to
identify all of its parent corporations and all publicly held
corporations that own 10% or more of its stock. The corporate
disclosure statement is intended to assist judges in determining
whether they must recuse themselves by reason of "a financial
interest in the subject matter in controversy." Code of Judicial
Conduct, Canon 3C(1)(c) (1972).
Rule 26.1(a) has been amended to require that nongovernmental
corporate parties who currently do not have to file a corporate
disclosure statement - that is, nongovernmental corporate parties
who do not have any parent corporations and at least 10% of whose
stock is not owned by any publicly held corporation - inform the
court of that fact. At present, when a corporate disclosure
statement is not filed, courts do not know whether it has not been
filed because there was nothing to report or because of ignorance
of Rule 26.1(a).
Rule 26.1(a) does not require the disclosure of all information
that could conceivably be relevant to a judge who is trying to
decide whether he or she has a "financial interest" in a case.
Experience with divergent disclosure practices and improving
technology may provide the foundation for more comprehensive
disclosure requirements. The Judicial Conference, supported by the
committees that work regularly with the Code of Judicial Conduct
and by the Administrative Office of the United States Courts, is in
the best position to develop any additional requirements and to
adjust those requirements as technology and other developments
warrant. Thus, Rule 26.1(a) has been amended to authorize the
Judicial Conference to promulgate more detailed financial
disclosure requirements - requirements that might apply beyond
nongovernmental corporate parties.
As has been true in the past, Rule 26.1(a) does not forbid the
promulgation of local rules that require disclosures in addition to
those required by Rule 26.1(a) itself. However, along with the
authority provided to the Judicial Conference to require additional
disclosures is the authority to preempt any local rulemaking on the
topic of financial disclosure.
Subdivision (b). Rule 26.1(b) has been amended to require parties
to file supplemental disclosure statements whenever there is a
change in the information that Rule 26.1(a) requires the parties to
disclose. For example, if a publicly held corporation acquires 10%
or more of a party's stock after the party has filed its disclosure
statement, the party should file a supplemental statement
identifying that publicly held corporation.
Subdivision (c). Rule 26.1(c) has been amended to provide that a
party who is required to file a supplemental disclosure statement
must file an original and 3 copies, unless a local rule or an order
entered in a particular case provides otherwise.
b. Alternative Two [At its June 7-8, 2001, meeting, the
Committee on Rules of Practice and Procedure voted to approve
Alternative Two.]
Subdivision (a). Rule 26.1(a) requires nongovernmental corporate
parties to file a "corporate disclosure statement." In that
statement, a nongovernmental corporate party is required to
identify all of its parent corporations and all publicly held
corporations that own 10% or more of its stock. The corporate
disclosure statement is intended to assist judges in determining
whether they must recuse themselves by reason of "a financial
interest in the subject matter in controversy." Code of Judicial
Conduct, Canon 3C(1)(c) (1972).
Rule 26.1(a) has been amended to require that nongovernmental
corporate parties who have not been required to file a corporate
disclosure statement - that is, nongovernmental corporate parties
who do not have any parent corporations and at least 10% of whose
stock is not owned by any publicly held corporation - inform the
court of that fact. At present, when a corporate disclosure
statement is not filed, courts do not know whether it has not been
filed because there was nothing to report or because of ignorance
of Rule 26.1.
Subdivision (b). Rule 26.1(b) has been amended to require parties
to file supplemental disclosure statements whenever there is a
change in the information that Rule 26.1(a) requires the parties to
disclose. For example, if a publicly held corporation acquires 10%
or more of a party's stock after the party has filed its disclosure
statement, the party should file a supplemental statement
identifying that publicly held corporation.
Subdivision (c). Rule 26.1(c) has been amended to provide that a
party who is required to file a supplemental disclosure statement
must file an original and 3 copies, unless a local rule or an order
entered in a particular case provides otherwise.
Changes Made After Publication and Comments. The Committee is
submitting two versions of proposed Rule 26.1 for the consideration
of the Standing Committee.
The first version - "Alternative One" - is the same as the
version that was published, except that the rule has been amended
to refer to "any information that may be publicly designated by the
Judicial Conference" instead of to "any information that may be
required by the Judicial Conference." At its April meeting, the
Committee gave unconditional approval to all of "Alternative One,"
except the Judicial Conference provisions. The Committee
conditioned its approval of the Judicial Conference provisions on
the Standing Committee's assuring itself that lawyers would have
ready access to any standards promulgated by the Judicial
Conference and that the Judicial Conference provisions were
consistent with the Rules Enabling Act.
The second version - "Alternative Two" - is the same as the
version that was published, except that the Judicial Conference
provisions have been eliminated. The Civil Rules Committee met
several days after the Appellate Rules Committee and joined the
Bankruptcy Rules Committee in disapproving the Judicial Conference
provisions. Given the decreasing likelihood that the Judicial
Conference provisions will be approved by the Standing Committee, I
asked Prof. Schiltz to draft, and the Appellate Rules Committee to
approve, a version of Rule 26.1 that omitted those provisions.
"Alternative Two" was circulated to and approved by the Committee
in late April.
I should note that, at its April meeting, the Appellate Rules
Committee discussed the financial disclosure provision that was
approved by the Bankruptcy Rules Committee. That provision defines
the scope of the financial disclosure obligation much differently
than the provisions approved by the Appellate, Civil, and Criminal
Rules Committees, which are based on existing Rule 26.1. For
example, the bankruptcy provision requires disclosure when a party
"directly or indirectly" owns 10 percent or more of "any class" of
a publicly or privately held corporation's "equity interests."
Members of the Appellate Rules Committee expressed several concerns
about the provision approved by the Bankruptcy Rules Committee,
objecting both to its substance and to its ambiguity.
-End-
-CITE-
28 USC APPENDIX Rule 27 01/06/03
-EXPCITE-
TITLE 28 - APPENDIX
FEDERAL RULES OF APPELLATE PROCEDURE
TITLE VII. GENERAL PROVISIONS
-HEAD-
Rule 27. Motions
-STATUTE-
(a) In General.
(1) Application for Relief. An application for an order or
other relief is made by motion unless these rules prescribe
another form. A motion must be in writing unless the court
permits otherwise.
(2) Contents of a Motion.
(A) Grounds and relief sought. A motion must state with
particularity the grounds for the motion, the relief sought,
and the legal argument necessary to support it.
(B) Accompanying documents.
(i) Any affidavit or other paper necessary to support a
motion must be served and filed with the motion.
(ii) An affidavit must contain only factual information,
not legal argument.
(iii) A motion seeking substantive relief must include a
copy of the trial court's opinion or agency's decision as a
separate exhibit.
(C) Documents barred or not required.
(i) A separate brief supporting or responding to a motion
must not be filed.
(ii) A notice of motion is not required.
(iii) A proposed order is not required.
(3) Response.
(A) Time to file. Any party may file a response to a motion;
Rule 27(a)(2) governs its contents. The response must be filed
within 8 days after service of the motion unless the court
shortens or extends the time. A motion authorized by Rules 8,
9, 18, or 41 may be granted before the 8-day period runs only
if the court gives reasonable notice to the parties that it
intends to act sooner.
(B) Request for affirmative relief. A response may include a
motion for affirmative relief. The time to respond to the new
motion, and to reply to that response, are governed by Rule
27(a)(3)(A) and (a)(4). The title of the response must alert
the court to the request for relief.
(4) Reply to Response. Any reply to a response must be filed
within 5 days after service of the response. A reply must not
present matters that do not relate to the response.
(b) Disposition of a Motion for a Procedural Order. The court may
act on a motion for a procedural order - including a motion under
Rule 26(b) - at any time without awaiting a response, and may, by
rule or by order in a particular case, authorize its clerk to act
on specified types of procedural motions. A party adversely
affected by the court's, or the clerk's, action may file a motion
to reconsider, vacate, or modify that action. Timely opposition
filed after the motion is granted in whole or in part does not
constitute a request to reconsider, vacate, or modify the
disposition; a motion requesting that relief must be filed.
(c) Power of a Single Judge to Entertain a Motion. A circuit
judge may act alone on any motion, but may not dismiss or otherwise
determine an appeal or other proceeding. A court of appeals may
provide by rule or by order in a particular case that only the
court may act on any motion or class of motions. The court may
review the action of a single judge.
(d) Form of Papers; Page Limits; and Number of Copies.
(1) Format.
(A) Reproduction. A motion, response, or reply may be
reproduced by any process that yields a clear black image on
light paper. The paper must be opaque and unglazed. Only one
side of the paper may be used.
(B) Cover. A cover is not required, but there must be a
caption that includes the case number, the name of the court,
the title of the case, and a brief descriptive title indicating
the purpose of the motion and identifying the party or parties
for whom it is filed. If a cover is used, it must be white.
(C) Binding. The document must be bound in any manner that is
secure, does not obscure the text, and permits the document to
lie reasonably flat when open.
(D) Paper size, line spacing, and margins. The document must
be on 8 1/2 by 11 inch paper. The text must be double-spaced,
but quotations more than two lines long may be indented and
single-spaced. Headings and footnotes may be single-spaced.
Margins must be at least one inch on all four sides. Page
numbers may be placed in the margins, but no text may appear
there.
(2) Page Limits. A motion or a response to a motion must not
exceed 20 pages, exclusive of the corporate disclosure statement
and accompanying documents authorized by Rule 27(a)(2)(B), unless
the court permits or directs otherwise. A reply to a response
must not exceed 10 pages.
(3) Number of Copies. An original and 3 copies must be filed
unless the court requires a different number by local rule or by
order in a particular case.
(e) Oral Argument. A motion will be decided without oral argument
unless the court orders otherwise.
-SOURCE-
(As amended Apr. 1, 1979, eff. Aug. 1, 1979; Apr. 25, 1989, eff.
Dec. 1, 1989; Apr. 29, 1994, eff. Dec. 1, 1994; Apr. 24, 1998, eff.
Dec. 1, 1998; Apr. 29, 2002, eff. Dec. 1, 2002.)
-MISC1-
NOTES OF ADVISORY COMMITTEE ON RULES - 1967
Subdivisions (a) and (b). Many motions seek relief of a sort
which is ordinarily unopposed or which is granted as of course. The
provision of subdivision (a) which permits any party to file a
response in opposition to a motion within 7 days after its service
upon him assumes that the motion is one of substance which ought
not be acted upon without affording affected parties an opportunity
to reply. A motion to dismiss or otherwise determine an appeal is
clearly such a motion. Motions authorized by Rules 8, 9, 18 and 41
are likewise motions of substance; but in the nature of the relief
sought, to afford an adversary an automatic delay of at least 7
days is undesirable, thus such motions may be acted upon after
notice which is reasonable under the circumstances.
The term "motions for procedural orders" is used in subdivision
(b) to describe motions which do not substantially affect the
rights of the parties or the ultimate disposition of the appeal. To
prevent delay in the disposition of such motions, subdivision (b)
provides that they may be acted upon immediately without awaiting a
response, subject to the right of any party who is adversely
affected by the action to seek reconsideration.
Subdivision (c). Within the general consideration of procedure on
motions is the problem of the power of a single circuit judge.
Certain powers are granted to a single judge of a court of appeals
by statute. Thus, under 28 U.S.C. Sec. 2101(f) a single judge may
stay execution and enforcement of a judgment to enable a party
aggrieved to obtain certiorari; under 28 U.S.C. Sec. 2251 a judge
before whom a habeas corpus proceeding involving a person detained
by state authority is pending may stay any proceeding against the
person; under 28 U.S.C. Sec. 2253 a single judge may issue a
certificate of probable cause. In addition, certain of these rules
expressly grant power to a single judge. See Rules 8, 9 and 18.
This subdivision empowers a single circuit judge to act upon
virtually all requests for intermediate relief which may be made
during the course of an appeal or other proceeding. By its terms he
may entertain and act upon any motion other than a motion to
dismiss or otherwise determine an appeal or other proceeding. But
the relief sought must be "relief which under these rules may
properly be sought by motion."
Examples of the power conferred on a single judge by this
subdivision are: to extend the time for transmitting the record or
docketing the appeal (Rules 11 and 12); to permit intervention in
agency cases (Rule 15), or substitution in any case (Rule 43); to
permit an appeal in forma pauperis (Rule 24); to enlarge any time
period fixed by the rules other than that for initiating a
proceeding in the court of appeals (Rule 26(b)); to permit the
filing of a brief by amicus curiae (Rule 29); to authorize the
filing of a deferred appendix (Rule 30(c)), or dispense with the
requirement of an appendix in a specific case (Rule 30(f)), or
permit carbon copies of briefs or appendices to be used (Rule
32(a)); to permit the filing of additional briefs (Rule 28(c)), or
the filing of briefs of extraordinary length (Rule 28(g)); to
postpone oral argument (Rule 34(a)), or grant additional time
therefor (Rule 34(b)).
Certain rules require that application for the relief or orders
which they authorize be made by petition. Since relief under those
rules may not properly be sought by motion, a single judge may not
entertain requests for such relief. Thus a single judge may not act
upon requests for permission to appeal (see Rules 5 and 6); or for
mandamus or other extraordinary writs (see Rule 21), other than for
stays or injunctions pendente lite, authority to grant which is
"expressly conferred by these rules" on a single judge under
certain circumstances (see Rules 8 and 18); or upon petitions for
rehearing (see Rule 40).
A court of appeals may by order or rule abridge the power of a
single judge if it is of the view that a motion or a class of
motions should be disposed of by a panel. Exercise of any power
granted a single judge is discretionary with the judge. The final
sentence in this subdivision makes the disposition of any matter by
a single judge subject to review by the court.
NOTES OF ADVISORY COMMITTEE ON RULES - 1979 AMENDMENT
The proposed amendment would give sanction to local rules in a
number of circuits permitting the clerk to dispose of specified
types of procedural motions.
NOTES OF ADVISORY COMMITTEE ON RULES - 1989 AMENDMENT
The amendment is technical. No substantive change is intended.
NOTES OF ADVISORY COMMITTEE ON RULES - 1994 AMENDMENT
Subdivision (d). The amendment makes it clear that a court may
require a different number of copies either by rule or by order in
an individual case. The number of copies of any document that a
court of appeals needs varies depending upon the way in which the
court conducts business. The internal operation of the courts of
appeals necessarily varies from circuit to circuit because of
differences in the number of judges, the geographic area included
within the circuit, and other such factors. Uniformity could be
achieved only by setting the number of copies artificially high so
that parties in all circuits file enough copies to satisfy the
needs of the court requiring the greatest number. Rather than do
that, the Committee decided to make it clear that local rules may
require a greater or lesser number of copies and that, if the
circumstances of a particular case indicate the need for a
different number of copies in that case, the court may so order.
COMMITTEE NOTES ON RULES - 1998 AMENDMENT
In addition to amending Rule 27 to conform to uniform drafting
standards, several substantive amendments are made. The Advisory
Committee had been working on substantive amendments to Rule 27
just prior to completion of this larger project.
Subdivision (a). Paragraph (1) retains the language of the
existing rule indicating that an application for an order or other
relief is made by filing a motion unless another form is required
by some other provision in the rules.
Paragraph (1) also states that a motion must be in writing unless
the court permits otherwise. The writing requirement has been
implicit in the rule; the Advisory Committee decided to make it
explicit. There are, however, instances in which a court may permit
oral motions. Perhaps the most common such instance would be a
motion made during oral argument in the presence of opposing
counsel; for example, a request for permission to submit a
supplemental brief on an issue raised by the court for the first
time at oral argument. Rather than limit oral motions to those made
during oral argument or, conversely, assume the propriety of making
even extremely complex motions orally during argument, the Advisory
Committee decided that it is better to leave the determination of
the propriety of an oral motion to the court's discretion. The
provision does not disturb the practice in those circuits that
permit certain procedural motions, such as a motion for extension
of time for filing a brief, to be made by telephone and ruled upon
by the clerk.
Paragraph (2) outlines the contents of a motion. It begins with
the general requirement from the current rule that a motion must
state with particularity the grounds supporting it and the relief
requested. It adds a requirement that all legal arguments should be
presented in the body of the motion; a separate brief or memorandum
supporting or responding to a motion must not be filed. The Supreme
Court uses this single document approach. Sup. Ct. R. 21.1. In
furtherance of the requirement that all legal argument must be
contained in the body of the motion, paragraph (2) also states that
an affidavit that is attached to a motion should contain only
factual information and not legal argument.
Paragraph (2) further states that whenever a motion requests
substantive relief, a copy of the trial court's opinion or agency's
decision must be attached.
Although it is common to present a district court with a proposed
order along with the motion requesting relief, that is not the
practice in the courts of appeals. A proposed order is not required
and is not expected or desired. Nor is a notice of motion required.
Paragraph (3) retains the provisions of the current rule
concerning the filing of a response to a motion except that the
time for responding has been expanded to 10 days rather than 7
days. Because the time periods in the rule apply to a substantive
motion as well as a procedural motion, the longer time period may
help reduce the number of motions for extension of time, or at
least provide a more realistic time frame within which to make and
dispose of such a motion.
A party filing a response in opposition to a motion may also
request affirmative relief. It is the Advisory Committee's judgment
that it is permissible to combine the response and the new motion
in the same document. Indeed, because there may be substantial
overlap of arguments in the response and in the request for
affirmative relief, a combined document may be preferable. If a
request for relief is combined with a response, the caption of the
document must alert the court to the request for relief. The time
for a response to such a new request and for reply to that response
are governed by the general rules regulating responses and replies.
Paragraph (4) is new. Two circuits currently have rules
authorizing a reply. As a general matter, a reply should not
reargue propositions presented in the motion or present matters
that do not relate to the response. Sometimes matters relevant to
the motion arise after the motion is filed; treatment of such
matters in the reply is appropriate even though strictly speaking
it may not relate to the response.
Subdivision (b). The material in this subdivision remains
substantively unchanged except to clarify that one may file a
motion for reconsideration, etc., of a disposition by either the
court or the clerk. A new sentence is added indicating that if a
motion is granted in whole or in part before the filing of timely
opposition to the motion, the filing of the opposition is not
treated as a request for reconsideration, etc. A party wishing to
have the court reconsider, vacate, or modify the disposition must
file a new motion that addresses the order granting the motion.
Although the rule does not require a court to do so, it would be
helpful if, whenever a motion is disposed of before receipt of any
response from the opposing party, the ruling indicates that it was
issued without awaiting a response. Such a statement will aid the
opposing party in deciding whether to request reconsideration. The
opposing party may have mailed a response about the time of the
ruling and be uncertain whether the court has considered it.
Subdivision (c). The changes in this subdivision are stylistic
only. No substantive changes are intended.
Subdivision (d). This subdivision has been substantially revised.
The format requirements have been moved from Rule 32(b) to
paragraph (1) of this subdivision. No cover is required, but a
caption is needed as well as a descriptive title indicating the
purpose of the motion and identifying the party or parties for whom
it is filed. Spiral binding or secure stapling at the upper
left-hand corner satisfies the binding requirement. But they are
not intended to be the exclusive methods of binding.
Paragraph (2) establishes page limits; twenty pages for a motion
or a response, and ten pages for a reply. Three circuits have
established page limits by local rule. This rule does not establish
special page limits for those instances in which a party combines a
response to a motion with a new request for affirmative relief.
Because a combined document most often will be used when there is
substantial overlap in the argument in opposition to the motion and
in the argument for the affirmative relief, twenty pages may be
sufficient in most instances. If it is not, the party may request
additional pages. If ten pages is insufficient for the original
movant to both reply to the response, and respond to the new
request for affirmative relief, two separate documents may be used
or a request for additional pages may be made.
The changes in paragraph (4) ae stylistic only. No substantive
changes are intended.
Subdivision (e). This new provision makes it clear that there is
no right to oral argument on a motion. Seven circuits have local
rules stating that oral argument of motions will not be held unless
the court orders it.
COMMITTEE NOTES ON RULES - 2002 AMENDMENT
Subdivision (a)(3)(A). Subdivision (a)(3)(A) presently requires
that a response to a motion be filed within 10 days after service
of the motion. Intermediate Saturdays, Sundays, and legal holidays
are counted in computing that 10-day deadline, which means that,
except when the 10-day deadline ends on a weekend or legal holiday,
parties generally must respond to motions within 10 actual days.
Fed. R. App. P. 26(a)(2) has been amended to provide that, in
computing any period of time, a litigant should "[e]xclude
intermediate Saturdays, Sundays, and legal holidays when the period
is less than 11 days, unless stated in calendar days." This change
in the method of computing deadlines means that 10-day deadlines
(such as that in subdivision (a)(3)(A)) have been lengthened as a
practical matter. Under the new computation method, parties would
never have less than 14 actual days to respond to motions, and
legal holidays could extend that period to as much as 18 days.
Permitting parties to take two weeks or more to respond to
motions would introduce significant and unwarranted delay into
appellate proceedings. For that reason, the 10-day deadline in
subdivision (a)(3)(A) has been reduced to 8 days. This change will,
as a practical matter, ensure that every party will have at least
10 actual days - but, in the absence of a legal holiday, no more
than 12 actual days - to respond to motions. The court continues to
have discretion to shorten or extend that time in appropriate
cases.
Changes Made After Publication and Comments. In response to the
objections of commentators, the time to respond to a motion was
increased from the proposed 7 days to 8 days. No other changes were
made to the text of the proposed amendment or to the Committee
Note.
Subdivision (a)(4). Subdivision (a)(4) presently requires that a
reply to a response to a motion be filed within 7 days after
service of the response. Intermediate Saturdays, Sundays, and legal
holidays are counted in computing that 7-day deadline, which means
that, except when the 7-day deadline ends on a weekend or legal
holiday, parties generally must reply to responses to motions
within one week.
Fed. R. App. P. 26(a)(2) has been amended to provide that, in
computing any period of time, a litigant should "[e]xclude
intermediate Saturdays, Sundays, and legal holidays when the period
is less than 11 days, unless stated in calendar days." This change
in the method of computing deadlines means that 7-day deadlines
(such as that in subdivision (a)(4)) have been lengthened as a
practical matter. Under the new computation method, parties would
never have less than 9 actual days to reply to responses to
motions, and legal holidays could extend that period to as much as
13 days.
Permitting parties to take 9 or more days to reply to a response
to a motion would introduce significant and unwarranted delay into
appellate proceedings. For that reason, the 7-day deadline in
subdivision (a)(4) has been reduced to 5 days. This change will, as
a practical matter, ensure that every party will have 7 actual days
to file replies to responses to motions (in the absence of a legal
holiday).
Changes Made After Publication and Comments. No changes were made
to the text of the proposed amendment or to the Committee Note.
Subdivision (d)(1)(B). A cover is not required on motions,
responses to motions, or replies to responses to motions. However,
Rule 27(d)(1)(B) has been amended to provide that if a cover is
nevertheless used on such a paper, the cover must be white. The
amendment is intended to promote uniformity in federal appellate
practice.
Changes Made After Publication and Comments. No changes were made
to the text of the proposed amendment or to the Committee Note.
-End-
-CITE-
28 USC APPENDIX Rule 28 01/06/03
-EXPCITE-
TITLE 28 - APPENDIX
FEDERAL RULES OF APPELLATE PROCEDURE
TITLE VII. GENERAL PROVISIONS
-HEAD-
Rule 28. Briefs
-STATUTE-
(a) Appellant's Brief. The appellant's brief must contain, under
appropriate headings and in the order indicated:
(1) a corporate disclosure statement if required by Rule 26.1;
(2) a table of contents, with page references;
(3) a table of authorities - cases (alphabetically arranged),
statutes, and other authorities - with references to the pages of
the brief where they are cited;
(4) a jurisdictional statement, including:
(A) the basis for the district court's or agency's
subject-matter jurisdiction, with citations to applicable
statutory provisions and stating relevant facts establishing
jurisdiction;
(B) the basis for the court of appeals' jurisdiction, with
citations to applicable statutory provisions and stating
relevant facts establishing jurisdiction;
(C) the filing dates establishing the timeliness of the
appeal or petition for review; and
(D) an assertion that the appeal is from a final order or
judgment that disposes of all parties' claims, or information
establishing the court of appeals' jurisdiction on some other
basis;
(5) a statement of the issues presented for review;
(6) a statement of the case briefly indicating the nature of
the case, the course of proceedings, and the disposition below;
(7) a statement of facts relevant to the issues submitted for
review with appropriate references to the record (see Rule
28(e));
(8) a summary of the argument, which must contain a succinct,
clear, and accurate statement of the arguments made in the body
of the brief, and which must not merely repeat the argument
headings;
(9) the argument, which must contain:
(A) appellant's contentions and the reasons for them, with
citations to the authorities and parts of the record on which
the appellant relies; and
(B) for each issue, a concise statement of the applicable
standard of review (which may appear in the discussion of the
issue or under a separate heading placed before the discussion
of the issues);
(10) a short conclusion stating the precise relief sought; and
(11) the certificate of compliance, if required by Rule
32(a)(7).
(b) Appellee's Brief. The appellee's brief must conform to the
requirements of Rule 28(a)(1)-(9) and (11), except that none of the
following need appear unless the appellee is dissatisfied with the
appellant's statement:
(1) the jurisdictional statement;
(2) the statement of the issues;
(3) the statement of the case;
(4) the statement of the facts; and
(5) the statement of the standard of review.
(c) Reply Brief. The appellant may file a brief in reply to the
appellee's brief. An appellee who has cross-appealed may file a
brief in reply to the appellant's response to the issues presented
by the cross-appeal. Unless the court permits, no further briefs
may be filed. A reply brief must contain a table of contents, with
page references, and a table of authorities - cases (alphabetically
arranged), statutes, and other authorities - with references to the
pages of the reply brief where they are cited.
(d) References to Parties. In briefs and at oral argument,
counsel should minimize use of the terms "appellant" and
"appellee." To make briefs clear, counsel should use the parties'
actual names or the designations used in the lower court or agency
proceeding, or such descriptive terms as "the employee," "the
injured person," "the taxpayer," "the ship," "the stevedore."
(e) References to the Record. References to the parts of the
record contained in the appendix filed with the appellant's brief
must be to the pages of the appendix. If the appendix is prepared
after the briefs are filed, a party referring to the record must
follow one of the methods detailed in Rule 30(c). If the original
record is used under Rule 30(f) and is not consecutively paginated,
or if the brief refers to an unreproduced part of the record, any
reference must be to the page of the original document. For
example:
-- Answer p. 7;
-- Motion for Judgment p. 2;
-- Transcript p. 231.
Only clear abbreviations may be used. A party referring to evidence
whose admissibility is in controversy must cite the pages of the
appendix or of the transcript at which the evidence was identified,
offered, and received or rejected.
(f) Reproduction of Statutes, Rules, Regulations, etc. If the
court's determination of the issues presented requires the study of
statutes, rules, regulations, etc., the relevant parts must be set
out in the brief or in an addendum at the end, or may be supplied
to the court in pamphlet form.
(g) [Reserved]
(h) Briefs in a Case Involving a Cross-Appeal. If a cross-appeal
is filed, the party who files a notice of appeal first is the
appellant for the purposes of this rule and Rules 30, 31, and 34.
If notices are filed on the same day, the plaintiff in the
proceeding below is the appellant. These designations may be
modified by agreement of the parties or by court order. With
respect to appellee's cross-appeal and response to appellant's
brief, appellee's brief must conform to the requirements of Rule
28(a)(1)-(11). But an appellee who is satisfied with appellant's
statement need not include a statement of the case or of the facts.
(i) Briefs in a Case Involving Multiple Appellants or Appellees.
In a case involving more than one appellant or appellee, including
consolidated cases, any number of appellants or appellees may join
in a brief, and any party may adopt by reference a part of
another's brief. Parties may also join in reply briefs.
(j) Citation of Supplemental Authorities. If pertinent and
significant authorities come to a party's attention after the
party's brief has been filed - or after oral argument but before
decision - a party may promptly advise the circuit clerk by letter,
with a copy to all other parties, setting forth the citations. The
letter must state the reasons for the supplemental citations,
referring either to the page of the brief or to a point argued
orally. The body of the letter must not exceed 350 words. Any
response must be made promptly and must be similarly limited.
-SOURCE-
(As amended Apr. 30, 1979, eff. Aug. 1, 1979; Mar. 10, 1986, eff.
July 1, 1986; Apr. 25, 1989, eff. Dec. 1, 1989; Apr. 30, 1991, eff.
Dec. 1, 1991; Apr. 22, 1993, eff. Dec. 1, 1993; Apr. 29, 1994, eff.
Dec. 1, 1994; Apr. 24, 1998, eff. Dec. 1, 1998; Apr. 29, 2002, eff.
Dec. 1, 2002.)
-MISC1-
NOTES OF ADVISORY COMMITTEE ON RULES - 1967
This rule is based upon Supreme Court Rule 40. For variations in
present circuit rules on briefs see 2d Cir. Rule 17, 3d Cir. Rule
24, 5th Cir. Rule 24, and 7th Cir. Rule 17. All circuits now limit
the number of pages of briefs, a majority limiting the brief to 50
pages of standard typographic printing. Fifty pages of standard
typographic printing is the approximate equivalent of 70 pages of
typewritten text, given the page sizes required by Rule 32 and the
requirement set out there that text produced by a method other than
standard typographic must be double spaced.
NOTES OF ADVISORY COMMITTEE ON RULES - 1979 AMENDMENT
The proposed amendment eliminates the distinction appearing in
the present rule between the permissible length in pages of printed
and typewritten briefs, investigation of the matter having
disclosed that the number of words on the printed page is little if
any larger than the number on a page typed in standard elite type.
The provision is made subject to local rule to permit the court
of appeals to require that typewritten briefs be typed in larger
type and permit a correspondingly larger number of pages.
Subdivision (j). Proposed new Rule 28(j) makes provision for
calling the court's attention to authorities that come to the
party's attention after the brief has been filed. It is patterned
after the practice under local rule in some of the circuits.
NOTES OF ADVISORY COMMITTEE ON RULES - 1986 AMENDMENT
While Rule 28(g) can be read as requiring that tables of
authorities be included in a reply brief, such tables are often not
included. Their absence impedes efficient use of the reply brief to
ascertain the appellant's response to a particular argument of the
appellee or to the appellee's use of a particular authority. The
amendment to Rule 28(c) is intended to make it clear that such
tables are required in reply briefs.
The amendment to Rule 28(j) is technical. No substantive change
is intended.
NOTES OF ADVISORY COMMITTEE ON RULES - 1989 AMENDMENT
The amendment provides that the corporate disclosure statement
required by new rule 26.1 shall be treated similarly to tables of
contents and tables of citations and shall not be counted for
purposes of the number of pages allowed in a brief.
NOTES OF ADVISORY COMMITTEE ON RULES - 1991 AMENDMENT
Subdivision (a). The amendment adds a new subparagraph (2) that
requires an appellant to include a specific jurisdictional
statement in the appellant's brief to aid the court of appeals in
determining whether it has both federal subject matter and
appellate jurisdiction.
Subdivision (b). The amendment requires the appellee to include a
jurisdictional statement in the appellee's brief except that the
appellee need not include the statement if the appellee is
satisfied with the appellant's jurisdictional statement.
Subdivision (h). The amendment provides that when more than one
party appeals from a judgment or order, the party filing the first
appeal is normally treated as the appellant for purposes of this
rule and Rules 30 and 31. The party who first files an appeal
usually is the principal appellant and should be treated as such.
Parties who file a notice of appeal after the first notice often
bring protective appeals and they should be treated as cross
appellants. Local rules in the Fourth and Federal Circuits now take
that approach. If notices of appeal are filed on the same day, the
rule follows the old approach of treating the plaintiff below as
the appellant. For purposes of this rule, in criminal cases "the
plaintiff" means the United States. In those instances where the
designations provided by the rule are inappropriate, they may be
altered by agreement of the parties or by an order of the court.
NOTES OF ADVISORY COMMITTEE ON RULES - 1993 AMENDMENT
Note to paragraph (a)(5). The amendment requires an appellant's
brief to state the standard of review applicable to each issue on
appeal. Five circuits currently require these statements.
Experience in those circuits indicates that requiring a statement
of the standard of review generally results in arguments that are
properly shaped in light of the standard.
NOTES OF ADVISORY COMMITTEE ON RULES - 1994 AMENDMENT
Subdivision (a). The amendment adds a requirement that an
appellant's brief contain a summary of the argument. A number of
circuits have local rules requiring a summary and the courts report
that they find the summary useful. See, D.C. Cir. R. 11(a)(5); 5th
Cir. R. 28.2.2; 8th Cir. R. 28A(i)(6); 11th Cir. R. 28-2(i); and
Fed. Cir. R. 28.
Subdivision (b). The amendment adds a requirement that an
appellee's brief contain a summary of the argument.
Subdivision (g). The amendment adds proof of service to the list
of items in a brief that do not count for purposes of the page
limitation. The concurrent amendment to Rule 25(d) requires a
certificate of service to list the addresses to which a paper was
mailed or at which it was delivered. When a number of parties must
be served, the listing of addresses may run to several pages and
those pages should not count for purposes of the page limitation.
COMMITTEE NOTES ON RULES - 1998 AMENDMENT
The language and organization of the rule are amended to make the
rule more easily understood. In additional to changes made to
improve the understanding, the Advisory Committee has changed
language to make style and terminology consistent throughout the
appellate rules. These changes are intended to be stylistic only.
Several substantive changes are made in this rule, however. Most
of them are necessary to conform Rule 28 with changes recommended
in Rule 32.
Subdivision (a). The current rule requires a brief to include a
statement of the case which includes a description of the nature of
the case, the course of proceedings, the disposition of the case -
all of which might be described as the procedural history - as well
as a statement of the facts. The amendments separate this into two
statements: one procedural, called the statement of the case; and
one factual, called the statement of the facts. The Advisory
Committee believes that the separation will be helpful to the
judges. The table of contents and table of authorities have also
been separated into two distinct items.
An additional amendment of subdivision (a) is made to conform it
with an amendment being made to Rule 32. Rule 32(a)(7) generally
requires a brief to include a certificate of compliance with
type-volume limitations contained in that rule. (No certificate is
required if a brief does not exceed 30 pages, or 15 pages for a
reply brief.) Rule 28(a) is amended to include that certificate in
the list of items that must be included in a brief whenever it is
required by Rule 32.
Subdivision (g). The amendments delete subdivision (g) that
limited a principal brief to 50 pages and a reply brief to 25
pages. The length limitations have been moved to Rule 32. Rule 32
deals generally with the format for a brief or appendix.
Subdivision (h). The amendment requires an appellee's brief to
comply with Rule 28(a)(1) through (11) with regard to a
cross-appeal. The addition of separate paragraphs requiring a
corporate disclosure statement, table of authorities, statement of
facts, and certificate of compliance increased the relevant
paragraphs of subdivision (a) from (7) to (11). The other changes
are stylistic; no substantive changes are intended.
COMMITTEE NOTES ON RULES - 2002 AMENDMENT
Subdivision (j). In the past, Rule 28(j) has required parties to
describe supplemental authorities "without argument." Enforcement
of this restriction has been lax, in part because of the difficulty
of distinguishing "state[ment] . . . [of] the reasons for the
supplemental citations," which is required, from "argument" about
the supplemental citations, which is forbidden.
As amended, Rule 28(j) continues to require parties to state the
reasons for supplemental citations, with reference to the part of a
brief or oral argument to which the supplemental citations pertain.
But Rule 28(j) no longer forbids "argument." Rather, Rule 28(j)
permits parties to decide for themselves what they wish to say
about supplemental authorities. The only restriction upon parties
is that the body of a Rule 28(j) letter - that is, the part of the
letter that begins with the first word after the salutation and
ends with the last word before the complimentary close - cannot
exceed 350 words. All words found in footnotes will count toward
the 350-word limit.
Changes Made After Publication and Comments. No changes were made
to the text of the proposed amendment or to the Committee Note,
except that the word limit was increased from 250 to 350 in
response to the complaint of some commentators that parties would
have difficulty bringing multiple supplemental authorities to the
attention of the court in one 250-word letter.
-End-
-CITE-
28 USC APPENDIX Rule 29 01/06/03
-EXPCITE-
TITLE 28 - APPENDIX
FEDERAL RULES OF APPELLATE PROCEDURE
TITLE VII. GENERAL PROVISIONS
-HEAD-
Rule 29. Brief of an Amicus Curiae
-STATUTE-
(a) When Permitted. The United States or its officer or agency,
or a State, Territory, Commonwealth, or the District of Columbia
may file an amicus-curiae brief without the consent of the parties
or leave of court. Any other amicus curiae may file a brief only by
leave of court or if the brief states that all parties have
consented to its filing.
(b) Motion for Leave to File. The motion must be accompanied by
the proposed brief and state:
(1) the movant's interest; and
(2) the reason why an amicus brief is desirable and why the
matters asserted are relevant to the disposition of the case.
(c) Contents and Form. An amicus brief must comply with Rule 32.
In addition to the requirements of Rule 32, the cover must identify
the party or parties supported and indicate whether the brief
supports affirmance or reversal. If an amicus curiae is a
corporation, the brief must include a disclosure statement like
that required of parties by Rule 26.1. An amicus brief need not
comply with Rule 28, but must include the following:
(1) a table of contents, with page references;
(2) a table of authorities - cases (alphabetically arranged),
statutes and other authorities - with references to the pages of
the brief where they are cited;
(3) a concise statement of the identity of the amicus curiae,
its interest in the case, and the source of its authority to
file;
(4) an argument, which may be preceded by a summary and which
need not include a statement of the applicable standard of
review; and
(5) a certificate of compliance, if required by Rule 32(a)(7).
(d) Length. Except by the court's permission, an amicus brief may
be no more than one-half the maximum length authorized by these
rules for a party's principal brief. If the court grants a party
permission to file a longer brief, that extension does not affect
the length of an amicus brief.
(e) Time for Filing. An amicus curiae must file its brief,
accompanied by a motion for filing when necessary, no later than 7
days after the principal brief of the party being supported is
filed. An amicus curiae that does not support either party must
file its brief no later than 7 days after the appellant's or
petitioner's principal brief is filed. A court may grant leave for
later filing, specifying the time within which an opposing party
may answer.
(f) Reply Brief. Except by the court's permission, an amicus
curiae may not file a reply brief.
(g) Oral Argument. An amicus curiae may participate in oral
argument only with the court's permission.
-SOURCE-
(As amended Apr. 24, 1998, eff. Dec. 1, 1998.)
-MISC1-
NOTES OF ADVISORY COMMITTEE ON RULES - 1967
Only five circuits presently regulate the filing of the brief of
an amicus curiae. See D.C. Cir. Rule 18(j); 1st Cir. Rule 23(10);
6th Cir. Rule 17(4); 9th Cir. Rule 18(9); 10th Cir. Rule 20. This
rule follows the practice of a majority of circuits in requiring
leave of court to file an amicus brief except under the
circumstances stated therein. Compare Supreme Court Rule 42.
COMMITTEE NOTES ON RULES - 1998 AMENDMENT
The language and organization of the rule are amended to make the
rule more easily understood. In addition to changes made to improve
the understanding, the Advisory Committee has changed language to
make style and terminology consistent throughout the appellate
rules. These changes are intended to be stylistic only.
Several substantive changes are made in this rule, however.
Subdivision (a). The major change in this subpart is that when a
brief is filed with the consent of all parties, it is no longer
necessary to obtain the parties' written consent and to file the
consents with the brief. It is sufficient to obtain the parties'
oral consent and to state in the brief that all parties have
consented. It is sometimes difficult to obtain all the written
consents by the filing deadline and it is not unusual for counsel
to represent that parties have consented; for example, in a motion
for extension of time to file a brief it is not unusual for the
movant to state that the other parties have been consulted and they
do not object to the extension. If a party's consent has been
misrepresented, the party will be able to take action before the
court considers the amicus brief.
The District of Columbia is added to the list of entities allowed
to file an amicus brief without consent of all parties. The other
changes in this material are stylistic.
Subdivision (b). The provision in the former rule, granting
permission to conditionally file the brief with the motion, is
changed to one requiring that the brief accompany the motion. Sup.
Ct. R. 37.4 requires that the proposed brief be presented with the
motion.
The former rule only required the motion to identify the
applicant's interest and to generally state the reasons why an
amicus brief is desirable. The amended rule additionally requires
that the motion state the relevance of the matters asserted to the
disposition of the case. As Sup. Ct. R. 37.1 states:
An amicus curiae brief which brings relevant matter to the
attention of the Court that has not already been brought to its
attention by the parties is of considerable help to the Court. An
amicus curiae brief which does not serve this purpose simply
burdens the staff and facilities of the Court and its filing is
not favored.
Because the relevance of the matters asserted by an amicus is
ordinarily the most compelling reason for granting leave to file,
the Committee believes that it is helpful to explicitly require
such a showing.
Subdivision (c). The provisions in this subdivision are entirely
new. Previously there was confusion as to whether an amicus brief
must include all of the items listed in Rule 28. Out of caution
practitioners in some circuits included all those items. Ordinarily
that is unnecessary.
The requirement that the cover identify the party supported and
indicate whether the amicus supports affirmance or reversal is an
administrative aid.
Paragraph (c)(3) requires an amicus to state the source of its
authority to file. The amicus simply must identify which of the
provisions in Rule 29(a) provides the basis for the amicus to file
its brief.
Subdivision (d). This new provision imposes a shorter page limit
for an amicus brief than for a party's brief. This is appropriate
for two reasons. First, an amicus may omit certain items that must
be included in a party's brief. Second, an amicus brief is
supplemental. It need not address all issues or all facets of a
case. It should treat only matter not adequately addressed by a
party.
Subdivision (e). The time limit for filing is changed. An amicus
brief must be filed no later than 7 days after the principal brief
of the party being supported is filed. Occasionally, an amicus
supports neither party; in such instances, the amendment provides
that the amicus brief must be filed no later than 7 days after the
appellant's or petitioner's principal brief is filed. Note that in
both instances the 7-day period runs from when a brief is filed.
The passive voice - "is filed" - is used deliberately. A party or
amicus can send its brief to a court for filing and, under Rule 25,
the brief is timely if mailed within the filing period. Although
the brief is timely if mailed within the filing period, it is not
"filed" until the court receives it and file stamps it. "Filing" is
done by the court, not by the party. It may be necessary for an
amicus to contact the court to ascertain the filing date.
The 7-day stagger was adopted because it is long enough to permit
an amicus to review the completed brief of the party being
supported and avoid repetitious argument. A 7-day period also is
short enough that no adjustment need be made in the opposing
party's briefing schedule. The opposing party will have sufficient
time to review arguments made by the amicus and address them in the
party's responsive pleading. The timetable for filing the parties'
briefs is unaffected by this change.
A court may grant permission to file an amicus brief in a context
in which the party does not file a "principal brief"; for example,
an amicus may be permitted to file in support of a party's petition
for rehearing. In such instances the court will establish the
filing time for the amicus.
The former rule's statement that a court may, for cause shown,
grant leave for later filing is unnecessary. Rule 26(b) grants
general authority to enlarge the time prescribed in these rules for
good cause shown. This new rule, however, states that when a court
grants permission for later filing, the court must specify the
period within which an opposing party may answer the arguments of
the amicus.
Subdivision (f). This subdivision generally prohibits the filing
a a reply brief by an amicus curiae. Sup. Ct. R. 37 and local rules
of the D.C., Ninth, and Federal Circuits state that an amicus may
not file a reply brief. The role of an amicus should not require
the use of a reply brief.
Subdivision (g). The language of this subdivision stating that an
amicus will be granted permission to participate in oral argument
"only for extraordinary reasons" has been deleted. The change is
made to reflect more accurately the current practice in which it is
not unusual for a court to permit an amicus to argue when a party
is willing to share its argument time with the amicus. The
Committee does not intend, however, to suggest that in other
instances an amicus will be permitted to argue absent extraordinary
circumstances.
-End-
-CITE-
28 USC APPENDIX Rule 30 01/06/03
-EXPCITE-
TITLE 28 - APPENDIX
FEDERAL RULES OF APPELLATE PROCEDURE
TITLE VII. GENERAL PROVISIONS
-HEAD-
Rule 30. Appendix to the Briefs
-STATUTE-
(a) Appellant's Responsibility.
(1) Contents of the Appendix. The appellant must prepare and
file an appendix to the briefs containing:
(A) the relevant docket entries in the proceeding below;
(B) the relevant portions of the pleadings, charge, findings,
or opinion;
(C) the judgment, order, or decision in question; and
(D) other parts of the record to which the parties wish to
direct the court's attention.
(2) Excluded Material. Memoranda of law in the district court
should not be included in the appendix unless they have
independent relevance. Parts of the record may be relied on by
the court or the parties even though not included in the
appendix.
(3) Time to File; Number of Copies. Unless filing is deferred
under Rule 30(c), the appellant must file 10 copies of the
appendix with the brief and must serve one copy on counsel for
each party separately represented. An unrepresented party
proceeding in forma pauperis must file 4 legible copies with the
clerk, and one copy must be served on counsel for each separately
represented party. The court may by local rule or by order in a
particular case require the filing or service of a different
number.
(b) All Parties' Responsibilities.
(1) Determining the Contents of the Appendix. The parties are
encouraged to agree on the contents of the appendix. In the
absence of an agreement, the appellant must, within 10 days after
the record is filed, serve on the appellee a designation of the
parts of the record the appellant intends to include in the
appendix and a statement of the issues the appellant intends to
present for review. The appellee may, within 10 days after
receiving the designation, serve on the appellant a designation
of additional parts to which it wishes to direct the court's
attention. The appellant must include the designated parts in the
appendix. The parties must not engage in unnecessary designation
of parts of the record, because the entire record is available to
the court. This paragraph applies also to a cross-appellant and a
cross-appellee.
(2) Costs of Appendix. Unless the parties agree otherwise, the
appellant must pay the cost of the appendix. If the appellant
considers parts of the record designated by the appellee to be
unnecessary, the appellant may advise the appellee, who must then
advance the cost of including those parts. The cost of the
appendix is a taxable cost. But if any party causes unnecessary
parts of the record to be included in the appendix, the court may
impose the cost of those parts on that party. Each circuit must,
by local rule, provide for sanctions against attorneys who
unreasonably and vexatiously increase litigation costs by
including unnecessary material in the appendix.
(c) Deferred Appendix.
(1) Deferral Until After Briefs Are Filed. The court may
provide by rule for classes of cases or by order in a particular
case that preparation of the appendix may be deferred until after
the briefs have been filed and that the appendix may be filed 21
days after the appellee's brief is served. Even though the filing
of the appendix may be deferred, Rule 30(b) applies; except that
a party must designate the parts of the record it wants included
in the appendix when it serves its brief, and need not include a
statement of the issues presented.
(2) References to the Record.
(A) If the deferred appendix is used, the parties may cite in
their briefs the pertinent pages of the record. When the
appendix is prepared, the record pages cited in the briefs must
be indicated by inserting record page numbers, in brackets, at
places in the appendix where those pages of the record appear.
(B) A party who wants to refer directly to pages of the
appendix may serve and file copies of the brief within the time
required by Rule 31(a), containing appropriate references to
pertinent pages of the record. In that event, within 14 days
after the appendix is filed, the party must serve and file
copies of the brief, containing references to the pages of the
appendix in place of or in addition to the references to the
pertinent pages of the record. Except for the correction of
typographical errors, no other changes may be made to the
brief.
(d) Format of the Appendix. The appendix must begin with a table
of contents identifying the page at which each part begins. The
relevant docket entries must follow the table of contents. Other
parts of the record must follow chronologically. When pages from
the transcript of proceedings are placed in the appendix, the
transcript page numbers must be shown in brackets immediately
before the included pages. Omissions in the text of papers or of
the transcript must be indicated by asterisks. Immaterial formal
matters (captions, subscriptions, acknowledgments, etc.) should be
omitted.
(e) Reproduction of Exhibits. Exhibits designated for inclusion
in the appendix may be reproduced in a separate volume, or volumes,
suitably indexed. Four copies must be filed with the appendix, and
one copy must be served on counsel for each separately represented
party. If a transcript of a proceeding before an administrative
agency, board, commission, or officer was used in a district-court
action and has been designated for inclusion in the appendix, the
transcript must be placed in the appendix as an exhibit.
(f) Appeal on the Original Record Without an Appendix. The court
may, either by rule for all cases or classes of cases or by order
in a particular case, dispense with the appendix and permit an
appeal to proceed on the original record with any copies of the
record, or relevant parts, that the court may order the parties to
file.
-SOURCE-
(As amended Mar. 30, 1970, eff. July 1, 1970; Mar. 10, 1986, eff.
July 1, 1986; Apr. 30, 1991, eff. Dec. 1, 1991; Apr. 29, 1994, eff.
Dec. 1, 1994; Apr. 24, 1998, eff. Dec. 1, 1998.)
-MISC1-
NOTES OF ADVISORY COMMITTEE ON RULES - 1967
Subdivision (a). Only two circuits presently require a printed
record (5th Cir. Rule 23(a); 8th Cir. Rule 10 (in civil appeals
only)), and the rules and practice in those circuits combine to
make the difference between a printed record and the appendix,
which is now used in eight circuits and in the Supreme Court in
lieu of the printed record, largely nominal. The essential
characteristics of the appendix method are: (1) the entire record
may not be reproduced; (2) instead, the parties are to set out in
an appendix to the briefs those parts of the record which in their
judgment the judges must consult in order to determine the issues
presented by the appeal; (3) the appendix is not the record but
merely a selection therefrom for the convenience of the judges of
the court of appeals; the record is the actual trial court record,
and the record itself is always available to supply inadvertent
omissions from the appendix. These essentials are incorporated,
either by rule or by practice, in the circuits that continue to
require the printed record rather than the appendix. See 5th Cir.
Rule 23(a)(9) and 8th Cir. Rule 10(a)-(d).
Subdivision (b). Under the practice in six of the eight circuits
which now use the appendix method, unless the parties agree to use
a single appendix, the appellant files with his brief an appendix
containing the parts of the record which he deems it essential that
the court read in order to determine the questions presented. If
the appellee deems additional parts of the record necessary he must
include such parts as an appendix to his brief. The proposed rules
differ from that practice. By the new rule a single appendix is to
be filed. It is to be prepared by the appellant, who must include
therein those parts which he deems essential and those which the
appellee designates as essential.
Under the practice by which each party files his own appendix the
resulting reproduction of essential parts of the record is often
fragmentary; it is not infrequently necessary to piece several
appendices together to arrive at a usable reproduction. Too, there
seems to be a tendency on the part of some appellants to reproduce
less than what is necessary for a determination of the issues
presented (see Moran Towing Corp. v. M. A. Gammino Construction
Co., 363 F.2d 108 (1st Cir. 1966); Walters v. Shari Music
Publishing Corp., 298 F.2d 206 (2d Cir. 1962) and cases cited
therein; Morrison v. Texas Co., 289 F.2d 382 (7th Cir. 1961) and
cases cited therein), a tendency which is doubtless encouraged by
the requirement in present rules that the appellee reproduce in his
separately prepared appendix such necessary parts of the record as
are not included by the appellant.
Under the proposed rule responsibility for the preparation of the
appendix is placed on the appellant. If the appellee feels that the
appellant has omitted essential portions of the record, he may
require the appellant to include such portions in the appendix. The
appellant is protected against a demand that he reproduce parts
which he considers unnecessary by the provisions entitling him to
require the appellee to advance the costs of reproducing such parts
and authorizing denial of costs for matter unnecessarily
reproduced.
Subdivision (c). This subdivision permits the appellant to elect
to defer the production of the appendix to the briefs until the
briefs of both sides are written, and authorizes a court of appeals
to require such deferred filing by rule or order. The advantage of
this method of preparing the appendix is that it permits the
parties to determine what parts of the record need to be reproduced
in the light of the issues actually presented by the briefs. Often
neither side is in a position to say precisely what is needed until
the briefs are completed. Once the argument on both sides is known,
it should be possible to confine the matter reproduced in the
appendix to that which is essential to a determination of the
appeal or review. This method of preparing the appendix is
presently in use in the Tenth Circuit (Rule 17) and in other
circuits in review of agency proceedings, and it has proven its
value in reducing the volume required to be reproduced. When the
record is long, use of this method is likely to result in
substantial economy to the parties.
Subdivision (e). The purpose of this subdivision is to reduce the
cost of reproducing exhibits. While subdivision (a) requires that
10 copies of the appendix be filed, unless the court requires a
lesser number, subdivision (e) permits exhibits necessary for the
determination of an appeal to be bound separately, and requires
only 4 copies of such a separate volume or volumes to be filed and
a single copy to be served on counsel.
Subdivision (f). This subdivision authorizes a court of appeals
to dispense with the appendix method of reproducing parts of the
record and to hear appeals on the original record and such copies
of it as the court may require.
Since 1962 the Ninth Circuit has permitted all appeals to be
heard on the original record and a very limited number of copies.
Under the practice as adopted in 1962, any party to an appeal could
elect to have the appeal heard on the original record and two
copies thereof rather than on the printed record theretofore
required. The resulting substantial saving of printing costs led to
the election of the new practice in virtually all cases, and by
1967 the use of printed records had ceased. By a recent amendment,
the Ninth Circuit has abolished the printed record altogether. Its
rules now provide that all appeals are to be heard on the original
record, and it has reduced the number of copies required to two
sets of copies of the transmitted original papers (excluding copies
of exhibits, which need not be filed unless specifically ordered).
See 9 Cir. Rule 10, as amended June 2, 1967, effective September 1,
1967. The Eighth Circuit permits appeals in criminal cases and in
habeas corpus and 28 U.S.C. Sec. 2255 proceedings to be heard on
the original record and two copies thereof. See 8 Cir. Rule 8
(i)-(j). The Tenth Circuit permits appeals in all cases to be heard
on the original record and four copies thereof whenever the record
consists of two hundred pages or less. See 10 Cir. Rule 17(a). This
subdivision expressly authorizes the continuation of the practices
in the Eighth, Ninth and Tenth Circuits.
The judges of the Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit have
expressed complete satisfaction with the practice there in use and
have suggested that attention be called to the advantages which it
offers in terms of reducing cost.
NOTES OF ADVISORY COMMITTEE ON RULES - 1970 AMENDMENT
Subdivision (a). The amendment of subdivision (a) is related to
the amendment of Rule 31(a), which authorizes a court of appeals to
shorten the time for filing briefs. By virtue of this amendment, if
the time for filing the brief of the appellant is shortened the
time for filing the appendix is likewise shortened.
Subdivision (c). As originally written, subdivision (c) permitted
the appellant to elect to defer filing of the appendix until 21
days after service of the brief of the appellee. As amended,
subdivision (c) requires that an order of court be obtained before
filing of the appendix can be deferred, unless a court permits
deferred filing by local rule. The amendment should not cause use
of the deferred appendix to be viewed with disfavor. In cases
involving lengthy records, permission to defer filing of the
appendix should be freely granted as an inducement to the parties
to include in the appendix only matter that the briefs show to be
necessary for consideration by the judges. But the Committee is
advised that appellants have elected to defer filing of the
appendix in cases involving brief records merely to obtain the 21
day delay. The subdivision is amended to prevent that practice.
NOTES OF ADVISORY COMMITTEE ON RULES - 1986 AMENDMENT
Subdivision (a). During its study of the separate appendix [see
Report on the Advisory Committee on the Federal Appellate Rules on
the Operation of Rule 30, - FRD - (1985)], the Advisory
Committee found that this document was frequently encumbered with
memoranda submitted to the trial court. United States v. Noall, 587
F.2d 123, 125 n. 1 (2nd Cir. 1978). See generally Drewett v. Aetna
Cas. & Sur. Co., 539 F.2d 496, 500 (5th Cir. 1976); Volkswagenwerk
Aktiengesellschaft v. Church, 413 F.2d 1126, 1128 (9th Cir. 1969).
Inclusion of such material makes the appendix more bulky and
therefore less useful to the appellate panel. It also can increase
significantly the costs of litigation.
There are occasions when such trial court memoranda have
independent relevance in the appellate litigation. For instance,
there may be a dispute as to whether a particular point was raised
or whether a concession was made in the district court. In such
circumstances, it is appropriate to include pertinent sections of
such memoranda in the appendix.
Subdivision (b). The amendment to subdivision (b) is designed to
require the circuits, by local rule, to establish a procedural
mechanism for the imposition of sanctions against those attorneys
who conduct appellate litigation in bad faith. Both 28 U.S.C. Sec.
1927 and the inherent power of the court authorized such sanctions.
See Brennan v. Local 357, International Brotherhood of Teamsters,
709 F.2d 611 (9th Cir. 1983). See generally Roadway Express, Inc.
v. Piper, 447 U.S. 752 (1980). While considerations of uniformity
are important and doubtless will be taken into account by the
judges of the respective circuits, the Advisory Committee believes
that, at this time, the circuits need the flexibility to tailor
their approach to the conditions of local practice. The local rule
shall provide for notice and opportunity to respond before the
imposition of any sanction.
Technical amendments also are made to subdivisions (a), (b) and
(c) which are not intended to be substantive changes.
TAXATION OF FEES IN APPEALS IN WHICH THE REQUIREMENT OF AN APPENDIX
IS DISPENSED WITH
The Judicial Conference of the United States at its session on
October 28th and 29th approved the following resolution relating to
fees to be taxed in the courts of appeals as submitted by the
Judicial Council of the Ninth Circuit with the proviso that its
application to any court of appeals shall be at the election of
each such court:
For some time it has been the practice in the Ninth Circuit Court
of Appeals to dispense with an appendix in an appellate record and
to hear the appeal on the original record, with a number of copies
thereof being supplied (Rule 30f, Federal Rules of Appellate
Procedure). It has been the practice of the Court to tax a fee of
$5 in small records and $10 in large records for the time of the
clerk involved in preparing such appeals and by way of
reimbursement for postage expense. Judicial Conference approval
heretofore has not been secured and the Judicial Council of the
Ninth Circuit now seeks to fix a flat fee of $15 to be charged as
fees for costs to be charged by any court of appeals "in any appeal
in which the requirement of an appendix is dispensed with pursuant
to Rule 30f, Federal Rules of Appellate Procedure."
NOTES OF ADVISORY COMMITTEE ON RULES - 1991 AMENDMENT
Subdivision (b). The amendment requires a cross appellant to
serve the appellant with a statement of the issues that the cross
appellant intends to pursue on appeal. No later than ten days after
the record is filed, the appellant and cross appellant must serve
each other with a statement of the issues each intends to present
for review and with a designation of the parts of the record that
each wants included in the appendix. Within the next ten days, both
the appellee and the cross appellee may designate additional
materials for inclusion in the appendix. The appellant must then
include in the appendix the parts thus designated for both the
appeal and any cross appeals. The Committee expects that
simultaneous compliance with this subdivision by an appellant and a
cross appellant will be feasible in most cases. If a cross
appellant cannot fairly be expected to comply until receipt of the
appellant's statement of issues, relief may be sought by motion in
the court of appeals.
NOTES OF ADVISORY COMMITTEE ON RULES - 1994 AMENDMENT
Subdivision (a). The only substantive change is to allow a court
to require the filing of a greater number of copies of an appendix
as well as a lesser number.
COMMITTEE NOTES ON RULES - 1998 AMENDMENT
The language and organization of the rule are amended to make the
rule more easily understood. In addition to changes made to improve
the understanding, the Advisory Committee has changed language to
make style and terminology consistent throughout the appellate
rules. These changes are intended to be stylistic only.
Subdivision (a). Paragraph (a)(3) is amended so that it is
consistent with Rule 31(b). An unrepresented party proceeding in
forma pauperis is only required to file 4 copies of the appendix
rather than 10.
Subdivision (c). When a deferred appendix is used, a brief must
make reference to the original record rather than to the appendix
because it does not exist when the briefs are prepared. Unless a
party later files an amended brief with direct references to the
pages of the appendix (as provided in subparagraph (c)(2)(B)), the
material in the appendix must indicate the pages of the original
record from which it was drawn so that a reader of the brief can
make meaningful use of the appendix. The instructions in the
current rule for cross-referencing the appendix materials to the
original record are unclear. The language in paragraph (c)(2) has
been amended to try to clarify the procedure.
Subdivision (d). In recognition of the fact that use of a typeset
appendix is exceedingly rare in the courts of appeals, the last
sentence - permitting a question and answer (as from a transcript)
to be in a single paragraph - has been omitted.
-End-
-CITE-
28 USC APPENDIX Rule 31 01/06/03
-EXPCITE-
TITLE 28 - APPENDIX
FEDERAL RULES OF APPELLATE PROCEDURE
TITLE VII. GENERAL PROVISIONS
-HEAD-
Rule 31. Serving and Filing Briefs
-STATUTE-
(a) Time to Serve and File a Brief.
(1) The appellant must serve and file a brief within 40 days
after the record is filed. The appellee must serve and file a
brief within 30 days after the appellant's brief is served. The
appellant may serve and file a reply brief within 14 days after
service of the appellee's brief but a reply brief must be filed
at least 3 days before argument, unless the court, for good
cause, allows a later filing.
(2) A court of appeals that routinely considers cases on the
merits promptly after the briefs are filed may shorten the time
to serve and file briefs, either by local rule or by order in a
particular case.
(b) Number of Copies. Twenty-five copies of each brief must be
filed with the clerk and 2 copies must be served on each
unrepresented party and on counsel for each separately represented
party. An unrepresented party proceeding in forma pauperis must
file 4 legible copies with the clerk, and one copy must be served
on each unrepresented party and on counsel for each separately
represented party. The court may by local rule or by order in a
particular case require the filing or service of a different
number.
(c) Consequence of Failure to File. If an appellant fails to file
a brief within the time provided by this rule, or within an
extended time, an appellee may move to dismiss the appeal. An
appellee who fails to file a brief will not be heard at oral
argument unless the court grants permission.
-SOURCE-
(As amended Mar. 30, 1970, eff. July 1, 1970; Mar. 10, 1986, eff.
July 1, 1986; Apr. 29, 1994, eff. Dec. 1, 1994; Apr. 24, 1998, eff.
Dec. 1, 1998; Apr. 29, 2002, eff. Dec. 1, 2002.)
-MISC1-
NOTES OF ADVISORY COMMITTEE ON RULES - 1967
A majority of the circuits now require the brief of the appellant
to be filed within 30 days from the date on which the record is
filed. But in those circuits an exchange of designations is
unnecessary in the preparation of the appendix. The appellant files
with his brief an appendix containing the parts of the record which
he deems essential. If the appellee considers other parts
essential, he includes those parts in his own appendix. Since the
proposed rule requires the appellant to file with his brief an
appendix containing necessary parts of the record as designated by
both parties, the rule allows the appellant 40 days in order to
provide time for the exchange of designations respecting the
content of the appendix (see Rule 30(b)).
NOTES OF ADVISORY COMMITTEE ON RULES - 1970 AMENDMENT
The time prescribed by Rule 31(a) for preparing briefs - 40 days
to the appellant, 30 days to the appellee - is well within the time
that must ordinarily elapse in most circuits before an appeal can
be reached for consideration. In those circuits, the time
prescribed by the Rule should not be disturbed. But if a court of
appeals maintains a current calendar, that is, if an appeal can be
heard as soon as the briefs have been filed, or if the practice of
the court permits the submission of appeals for preliminary
consideration as soon as the briefs have been filed, the court
should be free to prescribe shorter periods in the interest of
expediting decision.
NOTES OF ADVISORY COMMITTEE ON RULES - 1986 AMENDMENT
The amendments to Rules 31(a) and (c) are technical. No
substantive change is intended.
NOTES OF ADVISORY COMMITTEE ON RULES - 1994 AMENDMENT
Subdivision (b). The amendment allows a court of appeals to
require the filing of a greater, as well as a lesser, number of
copies of briefs. The amendment also allows the required number to
be prescribed by local rule as well as by order in a particular
case.
COMMITTEE NOTES ON RULES - 1998 AMENDMENT
The language and organization of the rule are amended to make the
rule more easily understood. In addition to changes made to improve
the understanding, the Advisory Committee has changed language to
make style and terminology consistent throughout the appellate
rules. These changes are intended to be stylistic only; a
substantive change is made, however, in subdivision (b).
Subdivision (a). Paragraph (a)(2) explicitly authorizes a court
of appeals to shorten a briefing schedule if the court routinely
considers cases on the merits promptly after the briefs are filed.
Extensions of the briefing schedule, by order, are permitted under
the general provisions of Rule 26(b).
Subdivision (b). The current rule says that a party who is
permitted to file "typewritten ribbon and carbon copies of the
brief" need only file an original and three copies of the brief.
The quoted language, in conjunction with current rule 24(c), means
that a party allowed to proceed in forma pauperis need not file 25
copies of the brief. Two changes are made in this subdivision.
First, it is anachronistic to refer to a party who is allowed to
file a typewritten brief as if that would distinguish the party
from all other parties; any party is permitted to file a
typewritten brief. The amended rule states directly that it applies
to a party permitted to proceed in forma pauperis. Second, the
amended rule does not generally permit parties who are represented
by counsel to file the lesser number of briefs. Inexpensive methods
of copying are generally available. Unless it would impose
hardship, in which case a motion to file a lesser number should be
filed, a represented party must file the usual number of briefs.
COMMITTEE NOTES ON RULES - 2002 AMENDMENT
Subdivision (b). In requiring that two copies of each brief "must
be served on counsel for each separately represented party," Rule
31(b) may be read to imply that copies of briefs need not be served
on unrepresented parties. The Rule has been amended to clarify that
briefs must be served on all parties, including those who are not
represented by counsel.
Changes Made After Publication and Comments. No changes were made
to the text of the proposed amendment or to the Committee Note.
-End-
-CITE-
28 USC APPENDIX Rule 32 01/06/03
-EXPCITE-
TITLE 28 - APPENDIX
FEDERAL RULES OF APPELLATE PROCEDURE
TITLE VII. GENERAL PROVISIONS
-HEAD-
Rule 32. Form of Briefs, Appendices, and Other Papers
-STATUTE-
(a) Form of a Brief.
(1) Reproduction.
(A) A brief may be reproduced by any process that yields a
clear black image on light paper. The paper must be opaque and
unglazed. Only one side of the paper may be used.
(B) Text must be reproduced with a clarity that equals or
exceeds the output of a laser printer.
(C) Photographs, illustrations, and tables may be reproduced
by any method that results in a good copy of the original; a
glossy finish is acceptable if the original is glossy.
(2) Cover. Except for filings by unrepresented parties, the
cover of the appellant's brief must be blue; the appellee's, red;
an intervenor's or amicus curiae's, green; any reply brief, gray;
and any supplemental brief, tan. The front cover of a brief must
contain:
(A) the number of the case centered at the top;
(B) the name of the court;
(C) the title of the case (see Rule 12(a));
(D) the nature of the proceeding (e.g., Appeal, Petition for
Review) and the name of the court, agency, or board below;
(E) the title of the brief, identifying the party or parties
for whom the brief is filed; and
(F) the name, office address, and telephone number of counsel
representing the party for whom the brief is filed.
(3) Binding. The brief must be bound in any manner that is
secure, does not obscure the text, and permits the brief to lie
reasonably flat when open.
(4) Paper Size, Line Spacing, and Margins. The brief must be on
8 1/2 by 11 inch paper. The text must be double-spaced, but
quotations more than two lines long may be indented and
single-spaced. Headings and footnotes may be single-spaced.
Margins must be at least one inch on all four sides. Page numbers
may be placed in the margins, but no text may appear there.
(5) Typeface. Either a proportionally spaced or a monospaced
face may be used.
(A) A proportionally spaced face must include serifs, but
sans-serif type may be used in headings and captions. A
proportionally spaced face must be 14-point or larger.
(B) A monospaced face may not contain more than 10 1/2
characters per inch.
(6) Type Styles. A brief must be set in a plain, roman style,
although italics or boldface may be used for emphasis. Case names
must be italicized or underlined.
(7) Length.
(A) Page limitation. A principal brief may not exceed 30
pages, or a reply brief 15 pages, unless it complies with Rule
32(a)(7)(B) and (C).
(B) Type-volume limitation.
(i) A principal brief is acceptable if:
-- it contains no more than 14,000 words; or
-- it uses a monospaced face and contains no more than
1,300 lines of text.
(ii) A reply brief is acceptable if it contains no more
than half of the type volume specified in Rule
32(a)(7)(B)(i).
(iii) Headings, footnotes, and quotations count toward the
word and line limitations. The corporate disclosure
statement, table of contents, table of citations, statement
with respect to oral argument, any addendum containing
statutes, rules or regulations, and any certificates of
counsel do not count toward the limitation.
(C) Certificate of compliance.
(i) A brief submitted under Rule 32(a)(7)(B) must include a
certificate by the attorney, or an unrepresented party, that
the brief complies with the type-volume limitation. The
person preparing the certificate may rely on the word or line
count of the word-processing system used to prepare the
brief. The certificate must state either:
-- the number of words in the brief; or
-- the number of lines of monospaced type in the brief.
(ii) Form 6 in the Appendix of Forms is a suggested form of
a certificate of compliance. Use of Form 6 must be regarded
as sufficient to meet the requirements of Rule
32(a)(7)(C)(i).
(b) Form of an Appendix. An appendix must comply with Rule
32(a)(1), (2), (3), and (4), with the following exceptions:
(1) The cover of a separately bound appendix must be white.
(2) An appendix may include a legible photocopy of any document
found in the record or of a printed judicial or agency decision.
(3) When necessary to facilitate inclusion of odd-sized
documents such as technical drawings, an appendix may be a size
other than 8 1/2 by 11 inches, and need not lie reasonably flat
when opened.
(c) Form of Other Papers.
(1) Motion. The form of a motion is governed by Rule 27(d).
(2) Other Papers. Any other paper, including a petition for
panel rehearing and a petition for hearing or rehearing en banc,
and any response to such a petition, must be reproduced in the
manner prescribed by Rule 32(a), with the following exceptions:
(A) A cover is not necessary if the caption and signature
page of the paper together contain the information required by
Rule 32(a)(2). If a cover is used, it must be white.
(B) Rule 32(a)(7) does not apply.
(d) Signature. Every brief, motion, or other paper filed with the
court must be signed by the party filing the paper or, if the party
is represented, by one of the party's attorneys.
(e) Local Variation. Every court of appeals must accept documents
that comply with the form requirements of this rule. By local rule
or order in a particular case a court of appeals may accept
documents that do not meet all of the form requirements of this
rule.
-SOURCE-
(As amended Apr. 24, 1998, eff. Dec. 1, 1998; Apr. 29, 2002, eff.
Dec. 1, 2002.)
-MISC1-
NOTES OF ADVISORY COMMITTEE ON RULES - 1967
Only two methods of printing are now generally recognized by the
circuits - standard typographic printing and the offset duplicating
process (multilith). A third, mimeographing, is permitted in the
Fifth Circuit. The District of Columbia, Ninth, and Tenth Circuits
permit records to be reproduced by copying processes. The Committee
feels that recent and impending advances in the arts of duplicating
and copying warrant experimentation with less costly forms of
reproduction than those now generally authorized. The proposed rule
permits, in effect, the use of any process other than the carbon
copy process which produces a clean, readable page. What
constitutes such is left in first instance to the parties and
ultimately to the court to determine. The final sentence of the
first paragraph of subdivision (a) is added to allow the use of
multilith, mimeograph, or other forms of copies of the reporter's
original transcript whenever such are available.
COMMITTEE NOTES ON RULES - 1998 AMENDMENT
In addition to amending Rule 32 to conform to uniform drafting
standards, several substantive amendments are made. The Advisory
Committee had been working on substantive amendments to Rule 32 for
some time prior to completion of this larger project.
Subdivison (a). Form of a Brief.
Paragraph (a)(1). Reproduction.
The rule permits the use of "light" paper, not just "white"
paper. Cream and buff colored paper, including recycled paper, are
acceptable. The rule permits printing on only one side of the
paper. Although some argue that paper could be saved by allowing
double-sided printing, others argue that in order to preserve
legibility a heavier weight paper would be needed, resulting in
little, if any, paper saving. In addition, the blank sides of a
brief are commonly used by judges and their clerks for making notes
about the case.
Because photocopying is inexpensive and widely available and
because use of carbon paper is now very rare, all references to the
use of carbon copies have been deleted.
The rule requires that the text be reproduced with a clarity that
equals or exceeds the output of a laser printer. That means that
the method used must have a print resolution of 300 dots per inch
(dpi) or more. This will ensure the legibility of the brief. A
brief produced by a typewriter or a daisy wheel printer, as well as
one produced by a laser printer, has a print resolution of 300 dpi
or more. But a brief produced by a dot-matrix printer, fax machine,
or portable printer that uses heat or dye transfer methods does
not. Some ink jet printers are 300 dpi or more, but some are 216
dpi and would not be sufficient.
Photographs, illustrations, and tables may be reproduced by any
method that results in a good copy.
Paragraph (a)(2). Cover.
The rule requires that the number of the case be centered at the
top of the front cover of a brief. This will aid in identification
of the brief. The idea was drawn from a local rule. The rule also
requires that the title of the brief identify the party or parties
on whose behalf the brief is filed. When there are multiple
appellants or appellees, the information is necessary to the court.
If, however, the brief is filed on behalf of all appellants or
appellees, it may so indicate. Further, it may be possible to
identify the class of parties on whose behalf the brief is filed.
Otherwise, it may be necessary to name each party. The rule also
requires that attorney's telephone numbers appear on the front
cover of a brief or appendix.
Paragraph (a)(3). Binding.
The rule requires a brief to be bound in any manner that is
secure, does not obscure the text, and that permits the brief to
lie reasonably flat when open. Many judges and most court employees
do much of their work at computer keyboards and a brief that lies
flat when open is significantly more convenient. One circuit
already has such a requirement and another states a preference for
it. While a spiral binding would comply with this requirement, it
is not intended to be the exclusive method of binding. Stapling a
brief at the upper left-hand corner also satisfies this requirement
as long as it is sufficiently secure.
Paragraph (a)(4). Paper Size, Line Spacing, and Margins.
The provisions for pamphlet-size briefs are deleted because their
use is so rare. If a circuit wishes to authorize their use, it has
authority to do so under subdivision (d) of this rule.
Paragraph (a)(5). Typeface.
This paragraph and the next one, governing type style, are new.
The existing rule simply states that a brief produced by the
standard typographic process must be printed in at least 11 point
type, or if produced in any other manner, the lines of text must be
double spaced. Today few briefs are produced by commercial printers
or by typewriters; most are produced on and printed by computer.
The availability of computer fonts in a variety of sizes and styles
has given rise to local rules limiting type styles. The Advisory
Committee believes that some standards are needed both to ensure
that all litigants have an equal opportunity to present their
material and to ensure that the briefs are easily legible.
With regard to typeface there are two options:
proportionally-spaced typeface or monospaced typeface.
A proportionally-spaced typeface gives a different amount of
horizontal space to characters depending upon the width of the
character. A capital "M" is given more horizontal space than a
lower case "i." The rule requires that a proportionally-spaced
typeface have serifs. Serifs are small horizontal or vertical
strokes at the ends of the lines that make up the letters and
numbers. Studies have shown that long passages of serif type are
easier to read and comprehend than long passages of sans-serif
type. The rule accordingly limits the principal sections of
submissions to serif type, although sans-serif type may be used in
headings and captions. This is the same approach magazines,
newspapers, and commercial printers take. Look at a professionally
printed brief; you will find sans-serif type confined to captions,
if it is used at all. The next line shows two characters enlarged
for detail. The first has serifs, the second does not.
Y ----- Y
So that the type is easily legible, the rule requires a minimum
type size of 14 points for proportionally-spaced typeface.
A monospaced typeface is one in which all characters have the
same advance width. That means that each character is given the
same horizontal space on the line. A wide letter such as a capital
"M" and a narrow letter such as a lower case "i" are given the same
space. Most typewriters produce mono-spaced type, and most
computers also can do so using fonts with names such as "Courier."
This sentence is in a proportionally spaced font; as you can see,
the m and i have different widths.
g077This sentence is in a monospaced font; as you can see, the m
and i have the same width.
The rule requires use of a monospaced typeface that produces no
more than 10 1/2 characters per inch. A standard typewriter with
pica type produces a monospaced typeface with 10 characters per
inch (cpi). That is the ideal monospaced typeface. The rule permits
up to 10 1/2 cpi because some computer software programs contain
monospaced fonts that purport to produce 10 cpi but that in fact
produce slightly more than 10 cpi. In order to avoid the need to
reprint a brief produced in good faith reliance upon such a
program, the rule permits a bit of leeway. A monospace typeface
with no more than 10 cpi is preferred.
Paragraph (a)(6). Type Styles.
The rule requires use of plain roman, that is not italic or
script, type. Italics and boldface may be used for emphasis.
Italicizing case names is preferred but underlining may be used.
Paragraph (a)(7). Type-Volume Limitation.
Subparagraph (a)(7)(A) contains a safe-harbor provision. A
principal brief that does not exceed 30 pages complies with the
type-volume limitation without further question or certification. A
reply brief that does not exceed 15 pages is similarly treated. The
current limit is 50 pages but that limit was established when most
briefs were produced on typewriters. The widespread use of personal
computers has made a multitude of printing options available to
practitioners. Use of a proportional typeface alone can greatly
increase the amount of material per page as compared with use of a
monospace typeface. Even though the rule requires use of 14-point
proportional type, there is great variation in the x-height of
different 14-point typefaces. Selection of a typeface with a small
x-height increases the amount of text per page. Computers also make
possible fine gradations in spacing between lines and tight
tracking between letters and words. All of this, and more, have
made the 50-page limit virtually meaningless. Establishing a
safe-harbor of 50 pages would permit a person who makes use of the
multitude of printing "tricks" available with most personal
computers to file a brief far longer than the "old" 50-page brief.
Therefore, as to those briefs not subject to any other volume
control than a page limit, a 30-page limit is imposed.
The limits in subparagraph (B) approximate the current 50-page
limit and compliance with them is easy even for a person without a
personal computer. The aim of these provisions is to create a level
playing field. The rule gives every party an equal opportunity to
make arguments, without permitting those with the best in-house
typesetting an opportunity to expand their submissions.
The length can be determined either by counting words or lines.
That is, the length of a brief is determined not by the number of
pages but by the number of words or lines in the brief. This gives
every party the same opportunity to present an argument without
regard to the typeface used and eliminates any incentive to use
footnotes or typographical "tricks" to squeeze more material onto a
page.
The word counting method can be used with any typeface.
A monospaced brief can meet the volume limitation by using the
word or a line count. If the line counting method is used, the
number of lines may not exceed 1,300 - 26 lines per page in a
50-page brief. The number of lines is easily counted manually. Line
counting is not sufficient if a proportionally spaced typeface is
used, because the amount of material per line can vary widely.
A brief using the type-volume limitations in subparagraph (B)
must include a certificate by the attorney, or party proceeding pro
se, that the brief complies with the limitation. The rule permits
the person preparing the certification to rely upon the word or
line count of the word-processing system used to prepare the brief.
Currently, Rule 28(g) governs the length of a brief. Rule 28(g)
begins with the words "[e]xcept by permission of the court,"
signaling that a party may file a motion to exceed the limits
established in the rule. The absence of similar language in Rule 32
does not mean that the Advisory Committee intends to prohibit
motions to deviate from the requirements of the rule. The Advisory
Committee does not believe that any such language is needed to
authorize such a motion.
Subdivision (b). Form of an Appendix.
The provisions governing the form of a brief generally apply to
an appendix. The rule recognizes, however, that an appendix is
usually produced by photocopying existing documents. The rule
requires that the photocopies be legible.
The rule permits inclusion not only of documents from the record
but also copies of a printed judicial or agency decision. If a
decision that is part of the record in the case has been published,
it is helpful to provide a copy of the published decision in place
of a copy of the decision from the record.
Subdivision (c). Form of Other Papers.
The old rule required a petition for rehearing to be produced in
the same manner as a brief or appendix. The new rule also requires
that a petition for rehearing en banc and a response to either a
petition for panel rehearing or a petition for rehearing en banc be
prepared in the same manner. But the length limitations of
paragraph (a)(7) do not apply to those documents and a cover is not
required if all the information needed by the court to properly
identify the document and the parties is included in the caption or
signature page.
Existing subdivision (b) states that other papers may be produced
in like manner, or "they may be typewritten upon opaque, unglazed
paper 8 1/2 by 11 inches in size." The quoted language is deleted
but that method of preparing documents is not eliminated because
(a)(5)(B) permits use of standard pica type. The only change is
that the new rule now specifies margins for typewritten documents.
Subdivision (d). Local Variation.
A brief that complies with the national rule should be acceptable
in every court. Local rules may move in one direction only; they
may authorize noncompliance with certain of the national norms. For
example, a court that wishes to do so may authorize printing of
briefs on both sides of the paper, or the use of smaller type size
or sans-serif proportional type. A local rule may not, however,
impose requirements that are not in the national rule.
-MISC2-
COMMITTEE NOTES ON RULES - 2002 AMENDMENT
Subdivision (a)(2). On occasion, a court may permit or order the
parties to file supplemental briefs addressing an issue that was
not addressed - or adequately addressed - in the principal briefs.
Rule 32(a)(2) has been amended to require that tan covers be used
on such supplemental briefs. The amendment is intended to promote
uniformity in federal appellate practice. At present, the local
rules of the circuit courts conflict. See, e.g., D.C. Cir. R. 28(g)
(requiring yellow covers on supplemental briefs); 11th Cir. R. 32,
I.O.P. 1 (requiring white covers on supplemental briefs).
Changes Made After Publication and Comments. No changes were made
to the text of the proposed amendment or to the Committee Note.
Subdivision (a)(7)(C). If the principal brief of a party exceeds
30 pages, or if the reply brief of a party exceeds 15 pages, Rule
32(a)(7)(C) provides that the party or the party's attorney must
certify that the brief complies with the type-volume limitation of
Rule 32(a)(7)(B). Rule 32(a)(7)(C) has been amended to refer to
Form 6 (which has been added to the Appendix of Forms) and to
provide that a party or attorney who uses Form 6 has complied with
Rule 32(a)(7)(C). No court may provide to the contrary, in its
local rules or otherwise.
Form 6 requests not only the information mandated by Rule
32(a)(7)(C), but also information that will assist courts in
enforcing the typeface requirements of Rule 32(a)(5) and the type
style requirements of Rule 32(a)(6). Parties and attorneys are not
required to use Form 6, but they are encouraged to do so.
Subdivision (c)(2)(A). Under Rule 32(c)(2)(A), a cover is not
required on a petition for panel rehearing, petition for hearing or
rehearing en banc, answer to a petition for panel rehearing,
response to a petition for hearing or rehearing en banc, or any
other paper. Rule 32(d) makes it clear that no court can require
that a cover be used on any of these papers. However, nothing
prohibits a court from providing in its local rules that if a cover
on one of these papers is "voluntarily" used, it must be a
particular color. Several circuits have adopted such local rules.
See, e.g., Fed. Cir. R. 35(c) (requiring yellow covers on petitions
for hearing or rehearing en banc and brown covers on responses to
such petitions); Fed. Cir. R. 40(a) (requiring yellow covers on
petitions for panel rehearing and brown covers on answers to such
petitions); 7th Cir. R. 28 (requiring blue covers on petitions for
rehearing filed by appellants or answers to such petitions, and
requiring red covers on petitions for rehearing filed by appellees
or answers to such petitions); 9th Cir. R. 40-1 (requiring blue
covers on petitions for panel rehearing filed by appellants and red
covers on answers to such petitions, and requiring red covers on
petitions for panel rehearing filed by appellees and blue covers on
answers to such petitions); 11th Cir. R. 35-6 (requiring white
covers on petitions for hearing or rehearing en banc).
These conflicting local rules create a hardship for counsel who
practice in more than one circuit. For that reason, Rule
32(c)(2)(A) has been amended to provide that if a party chooses to
use a cover on a paper that is not required to have one, that cover
must be white. The amendment is intended to preempt all local
rulemaking on the subject of cover colors and thereby promote
uniformity in federal appellate practice.
Changes Made After Publication and Comments. No changes were made
to the text of the proposed amendment or to the Committee Note.
Subdivisions (d) and (e). Former subdivision (d) has been
redesignated as subdivision (e), and a new subdivision (d) has been
added. The new subdivision (d) requires that every brief, motion,
or other paper filed with the court be signed by the attorney or
unrepresented party who files it, much as Fed. R. Civ. P. 11(a)
imposes a signature requirement on papers filed in district court.
Only the original copy of every paper must be signed. An appendix
filed with the court does not have to be signed at all.
By requiring a signature, subdivision (d) ensures that a readily
identifiable attorney or party takes responsibility for every
paper. The courts of appeals already have authority to sanction
attorneys and parties who file papers that contain misleading or
frivolous assertions, see, e.g., 28 U.S.C. Sec. 1912, Fed. R. App.
P. 38 & 46(b)(1)(B), and thus subdivision (d) has not been amended
to incorporate provisions similar to those found in Fed. R. Civ. P.
11(b) and 11(c).
Changes Made After Publication and Comments. No changes were made
to the text of the proposed amendment. A line was added to the
Committee Note to clarify that only the original copy of a paper
needs to be signed.
-End-
-CITE-
28 USC APPENDIX Rule 33 01/06/03
-EXPCITE-
TITLE 28 - APPENDIX
FEDERAL RULES OF APPELLATE PROCEDURE
TITLE VII. GENERAL PROVISIONS
-HEAD-
Rule 33. Appeal Conferences
-STATUTE-
The court may direct the attorneys - and, when appropriate, the
parties - to participate in one or more conferences to address any
matter that may aid in disposing of the proceedings, including
simplifying the issues and discussing settlement. A judge or other
person designated by the court may preside over the conference,
which may be conducted in person or by telephone. Before a
settlement conference, the attorneys must consult with their
clients and obtain as much authority as feasible to settle the
case. The court may, as a result of the conference, enter an order
controlling the course of the proceedings or implementing any
settlement agreement.
-SOURCE-
(As amended Apr. 29, 1994, eff. Dec. 1, 1994; Apr. 24, 1998, eff.
Dec. 1, 1998.)
-MISC1-
NOTES OF ADVISORY COMMITTEE ON RULES - 1967
The uniform rule for review or enforcement of orders of
administrative agencies, boards, commissions or officers (see the
general note following Rule 15) authorizes a prehearing conference
in agency review proceedings. The same considerations which make a
prehearing conference desirable in such proceedings may be present
in certain cases on appeal from the district courts. The proposed
rule is based upon subdivision 11 of the present uniform rule for
review of agency orders.
NOTES OF ADVISORY COMMITTEE ON RULES - 1994 AMENDMENT
Rule 33 has been entirely rewritten. The new rule makes several
changes.
The caption of the rule has been changed from "Prehearing
Conference" to "Appeal Conferences" to reflect the fact that
occasionally a conference is held after oral argument.
The rule permits the court to require the parties to attend the
conference in appropriate cases. The Committee does not contemplate
that attendance of the parties will become routine, but in certain
instances the parties' presence can be useful. The language of the
rule is broad enough to allow a court to determine that an
executive or employee (other than the general counsel) of a
corporation or government agency with authority regarding the
matter at issue, constitutes "the party."
The rule includes the possibility of settlement among the
possible conference topics.
The rule recognizes that conferences are often held by telephone.
The rule allows a judge or other person designated by the court
to preside over a conference. A number of local rules permit
persons other than judges to preside over conferences. 1st Cir. R.
47.5; 6th Cir. R. 18; 8th Cir. R. 33A; 9th Cir. R. 33-1; and 10th
Cir. R. 33.
The rule requires an attorney to consult with his or her client
before a settlement conference and obtain as much authority as
feasible to settle the case. An attorney can never settle a case
without his or her client's consent. Certain entities, especially
government entities, have particular difficulty obtaining authority
to settle a case. The rule requires counsel to obtain only as much
authority "as feasible."
COMMITTEE NOTES ON RULES - 1998 AMENDMENT
The language of the rule is amended to make the rule more easily
understood. In addition to changes made to improve the
understanding, the Advisory Committee has changed language to make
style and terminology consistent throughout the appellate rules.
These changes are intended to be stylistic only.
-End-
-CITE-
28 USC APPENDIX Rule 34 01/06/03
-EXPCITE-
TITLE 28 - APPENDIX
FEDERAL RULES OF APPELLATE PROCEDURE
TITLE VII. GENERAL PROVISIONS
-HEAD-
Rule 34. Oral Argument
-STATUTE-
(a) In General.
(1) Party's Statement. Any party may file, or a court may
require by local rule, a statement explaining why oral argument
should, or need not, be permitted.
(2) Standards. Oral argument must be allowed in every case
unless a panel of three judges who have examined the briefs and
record unanimously agrees that oral argument is unnecessary for
any of the following reasons:
(A) the appeal is frivolous;
(B) the dispositive issue or issues have been authoritatively
decided; or
(C) the facts and legal arguments are adequately presented in
the briefs and record, and the decisional process would not be
significantly aided by oral argument.
(b) Notice of Argument; Postponement. The clerk must advise all
parties whether oral argument will be scheduled, and, if so, the
date, time, and place for it, and the time allowed for each side. A
motion to postpone the argument or to allow longer argument must be
filed reasonably in advance of the hearing date.
(c) Order and Contents of Argument. The appellant opens and
concludes the argument. Counsel must not read at length from
briefs, records, or authorities.
(d) Cross-Appeals and Separate Appeals. If there is a
cross-appeal, Rule 28(h) determines which party is the appellant
and which is the appellee for purposes of oral argument. Unless the
court directs otherwise, a cross-appeal or separate appeal must be
argued when the initial appeal is argued. Separate parties should
avoid duplicative argument.
(e) Nonappearance of a Party. If the appellee fails to appear for
argument, the court must hear appellant's argument. If the
appellant fails to appear for argument, the court may hear the
appellee's argument. If neither party appears, the case will be
decided on the briefs, unless the court orders otherwise.
(f) Submission on Briefs. The parties may agree to submit a case
for decision on the briefs, but the court may direct that the case
be argued.
(g) Use of Physical Exhibits at Argument; Removal. Counsel
intending to use physical exhibits other than documents at the
argument must arrange to place them in the courtroom on the day of
the argument before the court convenes. After the argument, counsel
must remove the exhibits from the courtroom, unless the court
directs otherwise. The clerk may destroy or dispose of the exhibits
if counsel does not reclaim them within a reasonable time after the
clerk gives notice to remove them.
-SOURCE-
(As amended Apr. 1, 1979, eff. Aug. 1, 1979; Mar. 10, 1986, eff.
July 1, 1986; Apr. 30, 1991, eff. Dec. 1, 1991; Apr. 22, 1993, eff.
Dec. 1, 1993; Apr. 24, 1998, eff. Dec. 1, 1998.)
-MISC1-
NOTES OF ADVISORY COMMITTEE ON RULES - 1967
A majority of circuits now limit oral argument to thirty minutes
for each side, with the provision that additional time may be made
available upon request. The Committee is of the view that thirty
minutes to each side is sufficient in most cases, but that where
additional time is necessary it should be freely granted on a
proper showing of cause therefor. It further feels that the matter
of time should be left ultimately to each court of appeals, subject
to the spirit of the rule that a reasonable time should be allowed
for argument. The term "side" is used to indicate that the time
allowed by the rule is afforded to opposing interests rather than
to individual parties. Thus if multiple appellants or appellees
have a common interest, they constitute only a single side. If
counsel for multiple parties who constitute a single side feel that
additional time is necessary, they may request it. In other
particulars this rule follows the usual practice among the
circuits. See 3d Cir. Rule 31; 6th Cir. Rule 20; 10th Cir. Rule 23.
NOTES OF ADVISORY COMMITTEE ON RULES - 1979 AMENDMENT
The proposed amendment, patterned after the recommendations in
the Report of the Commission on Revision of the Federal Court
Appellate System, Structure and Internal Procedures:
Recommendations for Change, 1975, created by Public Law 489 of the
92nd Cong. 2nd Sess., 86 Stat. 807, sets forth general principles
and minimum standards to be observed in formulating any local rule.
NOTES OF ADVISORY COMMITTEE ON RULES - 1986 AMENDMENT
The amendments to Rules 34(a) and (e) are technical. No
substantive change is intended.
NOTES OF ADVISORY COMMITTEE ON RULES - 1991 AMENDMENT
Subdivision (d). The amendment of subdivision (d) conforms this
rule with the amendment of Rule 28(h).
NOTES OF ADVISORY COMMITTEE ON RULES - 1993 AMENDMENT
Subdivision (c). The amendment deletes the requirement that the
opening argument must include a fair statement of the case. The
Committee proposed the change because in some circuits the court
does not want appellants to give such statements. In those
circuits, the rule is not followed and is misleading. Nevertheless,
the Committee does not want the deletion of the requirement to
indicate disapproval of the practice. Those circuits that desire a
statement of the case may continue the practice.
COMMITTEE NOTES ON RULES - 1998 AMENDMENT
The language of the rule is amended to make the rule more easily
understood. In addition to changes made to improve the
understanding, the Advisory Committee has changed language to make
style and terminology consistent throughout the appellate rules.
These changes are intended to be stylistic only. Substantive
changes are made in subdivision (a).
Subdivision (a). Currently subdivision (a) says that oral
argument must be permitted unless, applying a local rule, a panel
of three judges unanimously agrees that oral argument is not
necessary. Rule 34 then outlines the criteria to be used to
determine whether oral argument is needed and requires any local
rule to "conform substantially" to the "minimum standard[s]"
established in the national rule. The amendments omit the local
rule requirement and make the criteria applicable by force of the
national rule. The local rule is an unnecessary instrument.
Paragraph (a)(2) states that one reason for deciding that oral
argument is unnecessary is that the dispositive issue has been
authoritatively decided. The amended language no longer states that
the issue must have been "recently" decided. The Advisory Committee
does not intend any substantive change, but thinks that the use of
"recently" may be misleading.
Subdivision (d). A cross-reference to Rule 28(h) has been
substituted for a reiteration of the provisions of Rule 28(h).
-End-
-CITE-
28 USC APPENDIX Rule 35 01/06/03
-EXPCITE-
TITLE 28 - APPENDIX
FEDERAL RULES OF APPELLATE PROCEDURE
TITLE VII. GENERAL PROVISIONS
-HEAD-
Rule 35. En Banc Determination
-STATUTE-
(a) When Hearing or Rehearing En Banc May Be Ordered. A majority
of the circuit judges who are in regular active service may order
that an appeal or other proceeding be heard or reheard by the court
of appeals en banc. An en banc hearing or rehearing is not favored
and ordinarily will not be ordered unless:
(1) en banc consideration is necessary to secure or maintain
uniformity of the court's decisions; or
(2) the proceeding involves a question of exceptional
importance.
(b) Petition for Hearing or Rehearing En Banc. A party may
petition for a hearing or rehearing en banc.
(1) The petition must begin with a statement that either:
(A) the panel decision conflicts with a decision of the
United States Supreme Court or of the court to which the
petition is addressed (with citation to the conflicting case or
cases) and consideration by the full court is therefore
necessary to secure and maintain uniformity of the court's
decisions; or
(B) the proceeding involves one or more questions of
exceptional importance, each of which must be concisely stated;
for example, a petition may assert that a proceeding presents a
question of exceptional importance if it involves an issue on
which the panel decision conflicts with the authoritative
decisions of other United States Courts of Appeals that have
addressed the issue.
(2) Except by the court's permission, a petition for an en banc
hearing or rehearing must not exceed 15 pages, excluding material
not counted under Rule 32.
(3) For purposes of the page limit in Rule 35(b)(2), if a party
files both a petition for panel rehearing and a petition for
rehearing en banc, they are considered a single document even if
they are filed separately, unless separate filing is required by
local rule.
(c) Time for Petition for Hearing or Rehearing En Banc. A
petition that an appeal be heard initially en banc must be filed by
the date when the appellee's brief is due. A petition for a
rehearing en banc must be filed within the time prescribed by Rule
40 for filing a petition for rehearing.
(d) Number of Copies. The number of copies to be filed must be
prescribed by local rule and may be altered by order in a
particular case.
(e) Response. No response may be filed to a petition for an en
banc consideration unless the court orders a response.
(f) Call for a Vote. A vote need not be taken to determine
whether the case will be heard or reheard en banc unless a judge
calls for a vote.
-SOURCE-
(As amended Apr. 1, 1979, eff. Aug. 1, 1979; Apr. 29, 1994, eff.
Dec. 1, 1994; Apr. 24, 1998, eff. Dec. 1, 1998.)
-MISC1-
NOTES OF ADVISORY COMMITTEE ON RULES - 1967
Statutory authority for in banc hearings is found in 28 U.S.C.
Sec. 46(c). The proposed rule is responsive to the Supreme Court's
view in Western Pacific Ry. Corp. v. Western Pacific Ry. Co., 345
U.S. 247, 73 S.Ct. 656, 97 L.Ed. 986 (1953), that litigants should
be free to suggest that a particular case is appropriate for
consideration by all the judges of a court of appeals. The rule is
addressed to the procedure whereby a party may suggest the
appropriateness of convening the court in banc. It does not affect
the power of a court of appeals to initiate in banc hearings sua
sponte.
The provision that a vote will not be taken as a result of the
suggestion of the party unless requested by a judge of the court in
regular active service or by a judge who was a member of the panel
that rendered a decision sought to be reheard is intended to make
it clear that a suggestion of a party as such does not require any
action by the court. See Western Pacific Ry. Corp. v. Western
Pacific Ry. Co., supra, 345 U.S. at 262, 73 S.Ct. 656. The rule
merely authorizes a suggestion, imposes a time limit on suggestions
for rehearings in banc, and provides that suggestions will be
directed to the judges of the court in regular active service.
In practice, the suggestion of a party that a case be reheard in
banc is frequently contained in a petition for rehearing, commonly
styled "petition for rehearing in banc." Such a petition is in fact
merely a petition for a rehearing, with a suggestion that the case
be reheard in banc. Since no response to the suggestion, as
distinguished from the petition for rehearing, is required, the
panel which heard the case may quite properly dispose of the
petition without reference to the suggestion. In such a case the
fact that no response has been made to the suggestion does not
affect the finality of the judgment or the issuance of the mandate,
and the final sentence of the rule expressly so provides.
NOTES OF ADVISORY COMMITTEE ON RULES - 1979 AMENDMENT
Under the present rule there is no specific provision for a
response to a suggestion that an appeal be heard in banc. This has
led to some uncertainty as to whether such a response may be filed.
The proposed amendment would resolve this uncertainty.
While the present rule provides a time limit for suggestions for
rehearing in banc, it does not deal with the timing of a request
that the appeal be heard in banc initially. The proposed amendment
fills this gap as well, providing that the suggestion must be made
by the date of which the appellee's brief is filed.
Provision is made for circulating the suggestions to members of
the panel despite the fact that senior judges on the panel would
not be entitled to vote on whether a suggestion will be granted.
NOTES OF ADVISORY COMMITTEE ON RULES - 1994 AMENDMENT
Subdivision (d). Subdivision (d) is added; it authorizes the
courts of appeals to prescribe the number of copies of suggestions
for hearing or rehearing in banc that must be filed. Because the
number of copies needed depends directly upon the number of judges
in the circuit, local rules are the best vehicle for setting the
required number of copies.
COMMITTEE NOTES ON RULES - 1998 AMENDMENT
The language and organization of the rule are amended to make the
rule more easily understood. In addition to changes made to improve
the understanding, the Advisory Committee has changed language to
make style and terminology consistent throughout the appellate
rules. These changes are intended to be stylistic only.
Several substantive changes are made in this rule, however.
One of the purposes of the substantive amendments is to treat a
request for a rehearing en banc like a petition for panel rehearing
so that a request for a rehearing en banc will suspend the finality
of the court of appeals' judgment and delay the running of the
period for filing a petition for writ of certiorari. Companion
amendments are made to Rule 41.
Subdivision (a). The title of this subdivision is changed from
"when hearing or rehearing in banc will be ordered" to "When
Hearing or Rehearing En Banc May Be Ordered." The change emphasizes
the discretion a court has with regard to granting en banc review.
Subdivision (b). The term "petition" for rehearing en banc is
substituted for the term "suggestion" for rehearing en banc. The
terminology change reflects the Committee's intent to treat
similarly a petition for panel rehearing and a request for a
rehearing en banc. The terminology change also delays the running
of the time for filing a petition for a writ of certiorari because
Sup. Ct. R. 13.3 says:
if a petition for rehearing is timely filed in the lower court by
any party, the time to file the petition for a writ of certiorari
for all parties . . . runs from the date of the denial of the
petition for rehearing or, if the petition for rehearing is
granted, the subsequent entry of judgment.
The amendments also require each petition for en banc
consideration to begin with a statement concisely demonstrating
that the case meets the usual criteria for en banc consideration.
It is the Committee's hope that requiring such a statement will
cause the drafter of a petition to focus on the narrow grounds that
support en banc consideration and to realize that a petition should
not be filed unless the case meets those rigid standards.
Intercircuit conflict is cited as one reason for asserting that a
proceeding involves a question of "exceptional importance."
Intercircuit conflicts create problems. When the circuits construe
the same federal law differently, parties' rights and duties depend
upon where a case is litigated. Given the increase in the number of
cases decided by the federal courts and the limitation on the
number of cases the Supreme Court can hear, conflicts between the
circuits may remain unresolved by the Supreme Court for an extended
period of time. The existence of an intercircuit conflict often
generates additional litigation in the other circuits as well as in
the circuits that are already in conflict. Although an en banc
proceeding will not necessarily prevent intercircuit conflicts, an
en banc proceeding provides a safeguard against unnecessary
intercircuit conflicts.
Some circuits have had rules or internal operating procedures
that recognize a conflict with another circuit as a legitimate
basis for granting a rehearing en banc. An intercircuit conflict
may present a question of "exceptional importance" because of the
costs that intercircuit conflicts impose on the system as a whole,
in addition to the significance of the issues involved. It is not,
however, the Committee's intent to make the granting of a hearing
or rehearing en banc mandatory whenever there is an intercircuit
conflict.
The amendment states that "a petition may assert that a
proceeding presents a question of exceptional importance if it
involves an issue on which the panel decision conflicts with the
authoritative decisions of every other United States Court of
Appeals that has addressed the issue." [The Supreme Court revised
the proposed amendment to Rule 35(b)(1)(B) by deleting "every"
before "other United States Court of Appeals".] That language
contemplates two situations in which a rehearing en banc may be
appropriate. The first is when a panel decision creates a conflict.
A panel decision creates a conflict when it conflicts with the
decisions of all other circuits that have considered the issue. If
a panel decision simply joins one side of an already existing
conflict, a rehearing en banc may not be as important because it
cannot avoid the conflict. The second situation that may be a
strong candidate for a rehearing en banc is one in which the
circuit persists in a conflict created by a pre-existing decision
of the same circuit and no other circuits have joined on that side
of the conflict. The amendment states that the conflict must be
with an "authoritative" decision of another circuit.
"Authoritative" is used rather than "published" because in some
circuits unpublished opinions may be treated as authoritative.
Counsel are reminded that their duty is fully discharged without
filing a petition for rehearing en banc unless the case meets the
rigid standards of subdivision (a) of this rule and even then the
granting of a petition is entirely within the court's discretion.
Paragraph (2) of this subdivision establishes a maximum length
for a petition. Fifteen pages is the length currently used in
several circuits. Each request for en banc consideration must be
studied by every active judge of the court and is a serious call on
limited judicial resources. The extraordinary nature of the issue
or the threat to uniformity of the court's decision can be
established in most cases in less than fifteen pages. A court may
shorten the maximum length on a case by case basis but the rule
does not permit a circuit to shorten the length by local rule. The
Committee has retained page limits rather than using word or line
counts similar to those in amended Rule 32 because there has not
been a serious enough problem to justify importing the word and
line-count and typeface requirements that are applicable to briefs
into other contexts.
Paragraph (3), although similar to (2), is separate because it
deals with those instances in which a party files both a petition
for rehearing en banc under this rule and a petition for panel
rehearing under Rule 40.
To improve the clarity of the rule, the material dealing with
filing a response to a petition and with voting on a petition have
been moved to new subdivisions (e) and (f).
Subdivision (c). Two changes are made in this subdivision. First,
the sentence stating that a request for a rehearing en banc does
not affect the finality of the judgment or stay the issuance of the
mandate is deleted. Second, the language permitting a party to
include a request for rehearing en banc in a petition for panel
rehearing is deleted. The Committee believes that those circuits
that want to require two separate documents should have the option
to do so.
Subdivision (e). This is a new subdivision. The substance of the
subdivision, however, was drawn from former subdivision (b). The
only changes are stylistic; no substantive changes are intended.
Subdivision (f). This is a new subdivision. The substance of the
subdivision, however, was drawn from former subdivision (b).
Because of the discretionary nature of the en banc procedure, the
filing of a suggestion for rehearing en banc has not required a
vote; a vote is taken only when requested by a judge. It is not the
Committee's intent to change the discretionary nature of the
procedure or to require a vote on a petition for rehearing en banc.
The rule continues, therefore, to provide that a court is not
obligated to vote on such petitions. It is necessary, however, that
each court develop a procedure for disposing of such petitions
because they will suspend the finality of the court's judgment and
toll the time for filing a petition for certiorari.
Former subdivision (b) contained language directing the clerk to
distribute a "suggestion" to certain judges and indicating which
judges may call for a vote. New subdivision (f) does not address
those issues because they deal with internal court procedures.
-End-
-CITE-
28 USC APPENDIX Rule 36 01/06/03
-EXPCITE-
TITLE 28 - APPENDIX
FEDERAL RULES OF APPELLATE PROCEDURE
TITLE VII. GENERAL PROVISIONS
-HEAD-
Rule 36. Entry of Judgment; Notice
-STATUTE-
(a) Entry. A judgment is entered when it is noted on the docket.
The clerk must prepare, sign, and enter the judgment:
(1) after receiving the court's opinion - but if settlement of
the judgment's form is required, after final settlement; or
(2) if a judgment is rendered without an opinion, as the court
instructs.
(b) Notice. On the date when judgment is entered, the clerk must
serve on all parties a copy of the opinion - or the judgment, if no
opinion was written - and a notice of the date when the judgment
was entered.
-SOURCE-
(As amended Apr. 24, 1998, eff. Dec. 1, 1998; Apr. 29, 2002, eff.
Dec. 1, 2002.)
-MISC1-
NOTES OF ADVISORY COMMITTEE ON RULES - 1967
This is the typical rule. See 1st Cir. Rule 29; 3rd Cir. Rule 32;
6th Cir. Rule 21. At present, uncertainty exists as to the date of
entry of judgment when the opinion directs subsequent settlement of
the precise terms of the judgment, a common practice in cases
involving enforcement of agency orders. See Stern and Gressman,
Supreme Court Practice, p. 203 (3d Ed., 1962). The principle of
finality suggests that in such cases entry of judgment should be
delayed until approval of the judgment in final form.
COMMITTEE NOTES ON RULES - 1998 AMENDMENT
The language and organization of the rule are amended to make the
rule more easily understood. In addition to changes made to improve
the understanding, the Advisory Committee has changed language to
make style and terminology consistent throughout the appellate
rules. These changes are intended to be stylistic only.
COMMITTEE NOTES ON RULES - 2002 AMENDMENT
Subdivision (b). Subdivision (b) has been amended so that the
clerk may use electronic means to serve a copy of the opinion or
judgment or to serve notice of the date when judgment was entered
upon parties who have consented to such service.
Changes Made After Publication and Comments. No changes were made
to the text of the proposed amendment or to the Committee Note.
-End-
-CITE-
28 USC APPENDIX Rule 37 01/06/03
-EXPCITE-
TITLE 28 - APPENDIX
FEDERAL RULES OF APPELLATE PROCEDURE
TITLE VII. GENERAL PROVISIONS
-HEAD-
Rule 37. Interest on Judgment
-STATUTE-
(a) When the Court Affirms. Unless the law provides otherwise, if
a money judgment in a civil case is affirmed, whatever interest is
allowed by law is payable from the date when the district court's
judgment was entered.
(b) When the Court Reverses. If the court modifies or reverses a
judgment with a direction that a money judgment be entered in the
district court, the mandate must contain instructions about the
allowance of interest.
-SOURCE-
(As amended Apr. 24, 1998, eff. Dec. 1, 1998.)
-MISC1-
NOTES OF ADVISORY COMMITTEE ON RULES - 1967
The first sentence makes it clear that if a money judgment is
affirmed in the court of appeals, the interest which attaches to
money judgments by force of law (see 28 U.S.C. Sec. 1961 and Sec.
2411) upon their initial entry is payable as if no appeal had been
taken, whether or not the mandate makes mention of interest. There
has been some confusion on this point. See Blair v. Durham, 139
F.2d 260 (6th Cir., 1943) and cases cited therein.
In reversing or modifying the judgment of the district court, the
court of appeals may direct the entry of a money judgment, as, for
example, when the court of appeals reverses a judgment
notwithstanding the verdict and directs entry of judgment on the
verdict. In such a case the question may arise as to whether
interest is to run from the date of entry of the judgment directed
by the court of appeals or from the date on which the judgment
would have been entered in the district court except for the
erroneous ruling corrected on appeal. In Briggs v. Pennsylvania R.
Co., 334 U.S. 304, 68 S.Ct. 1039, 92 L.Ed. 1403 (1948), the Court
held that where the mandate of the court of appeals directed entry
of judgment upon a verdict but made no mention of interest from the
date of the verdict to the date of the entry of the judgment
directed by the mandate, the district court was powerless to add
such interest. The second sentence of the proposed rule is a
reminder to the court, the clerk and counsel of the Briggs rule.
Since the rule directs that the matter of interest be disposed of
by the mandate, in cases where interest is simply overlooked, a
party who conceives himself entitled to interest from a date other
than the date of entry of judgment in accordance with the mandate
should be entitled to seek recall of the mandate for determination
of the question.
COMMITTEE NOTES ON RULES - 1998 AMENDMENT
The language and organization of the rule are amended to make the
rule more easily understood. In addition to changes made to improve
the understanding, the Advisory Committee has changed language to
make style and terminology consistent throughout the appellate
rules. These changes are intended to be stylistic only.
-End-
-CITE-
28 USC APPENDIX Rule 38 01/06/03
-EXPCITE-
TITLE 28 - APPENDIX
FEDERAL RULES OF APPELLATE PROCEDURE
TITLE VII. GENERAL PROVISIONS
-HEAD-
Rule 38. Frivolous Appeal - Damages and Costs
-STATUTE-
If a court of appeals determines that an appeal is frivolous, it
may, after a separately filed motion or notice from the court and
reasonable opportunity to respond, award just damages and single or
double costs to the appellee.
-SOURCE-
(As amended Apr. 29, 1994, eff. Dec. 1, 1994; Apr. 24, 1998, eff.
Dec. 1, 1998.)
-MISC1-
NOTES OF ADVISORY COMMITTEE ON RULES - 1967
Compare 28 U.S.C. Sec. 1912. While both the statute and the usual
rule on the subject by courts of appeals (Fourth Circuit Rule 20 is
a typical rule) speak of "damages for delay," the courts of appeals
quite properly allow damages, attorney's fees and other expenses
incurred by an appellee if the appeal is frivolous without
requiring a showing that the appeal resulted in delay. See
Dunscombe v. Sayle, 340 F.2d 311 (5th Cir., 1965), cert. den., 382
U.S. 814, 86 S.Ct. 32, 15 L.Ed.2d 62 (1965); Lowe v. Willacy, 239
F.2d 179 (9th Cir., 1956); Griffith Wellpoint Corp. v.
Munro-Langstroth, Inc., 269 F.2d 64 (1st Cir., 1959); Ginsburg v.
Stern, 295 F.2d 698 (3d Cir., 1961). The subjects of interest and
damages are separately regulated, contrary to the present practice
of combining the two (see Fourth Circuit Rule 20) to make it clear
that the awards are distinct and independent. Interest is provided
for by law; damages are awarded by the court in its discretion in
the case of a frivolous appeal as a matter of justice to the
appellee and as a penalty against the appellant.
NOTES OF ADVISORY COMMITTEE ON RULES - 1994 AMENDMENT
The amendment requires that before a court of appeals may impose
sanctions, the person to be sanctioned must have notice and an
opportunity to respond. The amendment reflects the basic principle
enunciated in the Supreme Court's opinion in Roadway Express, Inc.
v. Piper, 447 U.S. 752, 767 (1980), that notice and opportunity to
respond must precede the imposition of sanctions. A separately
filed motion requesting sanctions constitutes notice. A statement
inserted in a party's brief that the party moves for sanctions is
not sufficient notice. Requests in briefs for sanctions have become
so commonplace that it is unrealistic to expect careful responses
to such requests without any indication that the court is actually
contemplating such measures. Only a motion, the purpose of which is
to request sanctions, is sufficient. If there is no such motion
filed, notice must come from the court. The form of notice from the
court and of the opportunity for comment purposely are left to the
court's discretion.
COMMITTEE NOTES ON RULES - 1998 AMENDMENT
Only the caption of this rule has been amended. The changes are
intended to be stylistic only.
-End-
-CITE-
28 USC APPENDIX Rule 39 01/06/03
-EXPCITE-
TITLE 28 - APPENDIX
FEDERAL RULES OF APPELLATE PROCEDURE
TITLE VII. GENERAL PROVISIONS
-HEAD-
Rule 39. Costs
-STATUTE-
(a) Against Whom Assessed. The following rules apply unless the
law provides or the court orders otherwise:
(1) if an appeal is dismissed, costs are taxed against the
appellant, unless the parties agree otherwise;
(2) if a judgment is affirmed, costs are taxed against the
appellant;
(3) if a judgment is reversed, costs are taxed against the
appellee;
(4) if a judgment is affirmed in part, reversed in part,
modified, or vacated, costs are taxed only as the court orders.
(b) Costs For and Against the United States. Costs for or against
the United States, its agency, or officer will be assessed under
Rule 39(a) only if authorized by law.
(c) Costs of Copies. Each court of appeals must, by local rule,
fix the maximum rate for taxing the cost of producing necessary
copies of a brief or appendix, or copies of records authorized by
Rule 30(f). The rate must not exceed that generally charged for
such work in the area where the clerk's office is located and
should encourage economical methods of copying.
(d) Bill of Costs: Objections; Insertion in Mandate.
(1) A party who wants costs taxed must - within 14 days after
entry of judgment - file with the circuit clerk, with proof of
service, an itemized and verified bill of costs.
(2) Objections must be filed within 10 days after service of
the bill of costs, unless the court extends the time.
(3) The clerk must prepare and certify an itemized statement of
costs for insertion in the mandate, but issuance of the mandate
must not be delayed for taxing costs. If the mandate issues
before costs are finally determined, the district clerk must -
upon the circuit clerk's request - add the statement of costs, or
any amendment of it, to the mandate.
(e) Costs on Appeal Taxable in the District Court. The following
costs on appeal are taxable in the district court for the benefit
of the party entitled to costs under this rule:
(1) the preparation and transmission of the record;
(2) the reporter's transcript, if needed to determine the
appeal;
(3) premiums paid for a supersedeas bond or other bond to
preserve rights pending appeal; and
(4) the fee for filing the notice of appeal.
-SOURCE-
(As amended Apr. 30, 1979, eff. Aug. 1, 1979; Mar. 10, 1986, eff.
July 1, 1986; Apr. 24, 1998, eff. Dec. 1, 1998.)
-MISC1-
NOTES ON ADVISORY COMMITTEE ON RULES - 1967
Subdivision (a). Statutory authorization for taxation of costs is
found in 28 U.S.C. Sec. 1920. The provisions of this subdivision
follow the usual practice in the circuits. A few statutes contain
specific provisions in derogation of these general provisions. (See
28 U.S.C. Sec. 1928, which forbids the award of costs to a
successful plaintiff in a patent infringement action under the
circumstances described by the statute). These statutes are
controlling in cases to which they apply.
Subdivision (b). The rules of the courts of appeals at present
commonly deny costs to the United States except as allowance may be
directed by statute. Those rules were promulgated at a time when
the United States was generally invulnerable to an award of costs
against it, and they appear to be based on the view that if the
United States is not subject to costs if it loses, it ought not be
entitled to recover costs if it wins.
The number of cases affected by such rules has been greatly
reduced by the Act of July 18, 1966, 80 Stat. 308 (1 U.S. Code
Cong. & Ad. News, p. 349 (1966), 89th Cong., 2d Sess., which
amended 28 U.S.C. Sec. 2412, the former general bar to the award of
costs against the United States. Section 2412 as amended generally
places the United States on the same footing as private parties
with respect to the award of costs in civil cases. But the United
States continues to enjoy immunity from costs in certain cases. By
its terms amended section 2412 authorizes an award of costs against
the United States only in civil actions, and it excepts from its
general authorization of an award of costs against the United
States cases which are "otherwise specifically provided (for) by
statute." Furthermore, the Act of July 18, 1966, supra, provides
that the amendments of section 2412 which it effects shall apply
only to actions filed subsequent to the date of its enactment. The
second clause continues in effect, for these and all other cases in
which the United States enjoys immunity from costs, the presently
prevailing rule that the United States may recover costs as the
prevailing party only if it would have suffered them as the losing
party.
Subdivision (c). While only five circuits (D.C. Cir. Rule 20(d);
1st Cir. Rule 31(4); 3d Cir. Rule 35(4); 4th Cir. Rule 21(4); 9th
Cir. Rule 25, as amended June 2, 1967) presently tax the cost of
printing briefs, the proposed rule makes the cost taxable in
keeping with the principle of this rule that all cost items
expended in the prosecution of a proceeding should be borne by the
unsuccessful party.
Subdivision (e). The costs described in this subdivision are
costs of the appeal and, as such, are within the undertaking of the
appeal bond. They are made taxable in the district court for
general convenience. Taxation of the cost of the reporter's
transcript is specifically authorized by 28 U.S.C. Sec. 1920, but
in the absence of a rule some district courts have held themselves
without authority to tax the cost (Perlman v. Feldmann, 116 F.Supp.
102 (D.Conn., 1953); Firtag v. Gendleman, 152 F.Supp. 226 (D.D.C.,
1957); Todd Atlantic Shipyards Corps. v. The Southport, 100 F.Supp.
763 (E.D.S.C., 1951). Provision for taxation of the cost of
premiums paid for supersedeas bonds is common in the local rules of
district courts and the practice is established in the Second,
Seventh, and Ninth Circuits. Berner v. British Commonwealth Pacific
Air Lines, Ltd., 362 F.2d 799 (2d Cir. 1966); Land Oberoesterreich
v. Gude, 93 F.2d 292 (2d Cir., 1937); In re Northern Ind. Oil Co.,
192 F.2d 139 (7th Cir., 1951); Lunn v. F. W. Woolworth, 210 F.2d
159 (9th Cir., 1954).
NOTES OF ADVISORY COMMITTEE ON RULES - 1979 AMENDMENT
Subdivision (c). The proposed amendment would permit variations
among the circuits in regulating the maximum rates taxable as costs
for printing or otherwise reproducing briefs, appendices, and
copies of records authorized by Rule 30(f). The present rule has
had a different effect in different circuits depending upon the
size of the circuit, the location of the clerk's office, and the
location of other cities. As a consequence there was a growing
sense that strict adherence to the rule produces some unfairness in
some of the circuits and the matter should be made subject to local
rule.
Subdivision (d). The present rule makes no provision for
objections to a bill of costs. The proposed amendment would allow
10 days for such objections. Cf. Rule 54(d) of the F.R.C.P. It
provides further that the mandate shall not be delayed for taxation
of costs.
NOTES OF ADVISORY COMMITTEE ON RULES - 1986 AMENDMENT
The amendment to subdivision (c) is intended to increase the
degree of control exercised by the courts of appeals over rates for
printing and copying recoverable as costs. It further requires the
courts of appeals to encourage cost-consciousness by requiring
that, in fixing the rate, the court consider the most economical
methods of printing and copying.
The amendment to subdivision (d) is technical. No substantive
change is intended.
COMMITTEE NOTES ON RULES - 1998 AMENDMENT
The language and organization of the rule are amended to make the
rule more easily understood. In addition to changes made to improve
the understanding, the Advisory Committee has changed language to
make style and terminology consistent throughout the appellate
rules. These changes are intended to be stylistic only. All
references to the cost of "printing" have been deleted from
subdivision (c) because commercial printing is so rarely used for
preparation of documents filed with a court of appeals.
-End-
-CITE-
28 USC APPENDIX Rule 40 01/06/03
-EXPCITE-
TITLE 28 - APPENDIX
FEDERAL RULES OF APPELLATE PROCEDURE
TITLE VII. GENERAL PROVISIONS
-HEAD-
Rule 40. Petition for Panel Rehearing
-STATUTE-
(a) Time to File; Contents; Answer; Action by the Court if
Granted.
(1) Time. Unless the time is shortened or extended by order or
local rule, a petition for panel rehearing may be filed within 14
days after entry of judgment. But in a civil case, if the United
States or its officer or agency is a party, the time within which
any party may seek rehearing is 45 days after entry of judgment,
unless an order shortens or extends the time.
(2) Contents. The petition must state with particularity each
point of law or fact that the petitioner believes the court has
overlooked or misapprehended and must argue in support of the
petition. Oral argument is not permitted.
(3) Answer. Unless the court requests, no answer to a petition
for panel rehearing is permitted. But ordinarily rehearing will
not be granted in the absence of such a request.
(4) Action by the Court. If a petition for panel rehearing is
granted, the court may do any of the following:
(A) make a final disposition of the case without reargument;
(B) restore the case to the calendar for reargument or
resubmission; or
(C) issue any other appropriate order.
(b) Form of Petition; Length. The petition must comply in form
with Rule 32. Copies must be served and filed as Rule 31
prescribes. Unless the court permits or a local rule provides
otherwise, a petition for panel rehearing must not exceed 15 pages.
-SOURCE-
(As amended Apr. 30, 1979, eff. Aug. 1, 1979; Apr. 29, 1994, eff.
Dec. 1, 1994; Apr. 24, 1998, eff. Dec. 1, 1998.)
-MISC1-
NOTES OF ADVISORY COMMITTEE ON RULES - 1967
This is the usual rule among the circuits, except that the
express prohibition against filing a reply to the petition is found
only in the rules of the Fourth, Sixth and Eighth Circuits (it is
also contained in Supreme Court Rule 58(3)). It is included to save
time and expense to the party victorious on appeal. In the very
rare instances in which a reply is useful, the court will ask for
it.
NOTES OF ADVISORY COMMITTEE ON RULES - 1979 AMENDMENT
Subdivision (a). The Standing Committee added to the first
sentence of Rule 40(a) the words "or by local rule," to conform to
current practice in the circuits. The Standing Committee believes
the change noncontroversial.
Subdivision (b). The proposed amendment would eliminate the
distinction drawn in the present rule between printed briefs and
those duplicated from typewritten pages in fixing their maximum
length. See Note to Rule 28. Since petitions for rehearing must be
prepared in a short time, making typographic printing less likely,
the maximum number of pages is fixed at 15, the figure used in the
present rule for petitions duplicated by means other than
typographic printing.
NOTES OF ADVISORY COMMITTEE ON RULES - 1994 AMENDMENT
Subdivision (a). The amendment lengthens the time for filing a
petition for rehearing from 14 to 45 days in civil cases involving
the United States or its agencies or officers. It has no effect
upon the time for filing in criminal cases. The amendment makes
nation-wide the current practice in the District of Columbia and
the Tenth Circuits, see D.C. Cir. R. 15(a), 10th Cir. R. 40.3. This
amendment, analogous to the provision in Rule 4(a) extending the
time for filing a notice of appeal in cases involving the United
States, recognizes that the Solicitor General needs time to conduct
a thorough review of the merits of a case before requesting a
rehearing. In a case in which a court of appeals believes it
necessary to restrict the time for filing a rehearing petition, the
amendment provides that the court may do so by order. Although the
first sentence of Rule 40 permits a court of appeals to shorten or
lengthen the usual 14 day filing period by order or by local rule,
the sentence governing appeals in civil cases involving the United
States purposely limits a court's power to alter the 45 day period
to orders in specific cases. If a court of appeals could adopt a
local rule shortening the time for filing a petition for rehearing
in all cases involving the United States, the purpose of the
amendment would be defeated.
COMMITTEE NOTES ON RULES - 1998 AMENDMENT
The language and organization of the rule are amended to make the
rule more easily understood. In addition to changes made to improve
the understanding, the Advisory Committee has changed language to
make style and terminology consistent throughout the appellate
rules. These changes are intended to be stylistic only.
-End-
-CITE-
28 USC APPENDIX Rule 41 01/06/03
-EXPCITE-
TITLE 28 - APPENDIX
FEDERAL RULES OF APPELLATE PROCEDURE
TITLE VII. GENERAL PROVISIONS
-HEAD-
Rule 41. Mandate: Contents; Issuance and Effective Date; Stay
-STATUTE-
(a) Contents. Unless the court directs that a formal mandate
issue, the mandate consists of a certified copy of the judgment, a
copy of the court's opinion, if any, and any direction about costs.
(b) When Issued. The court's mandate must issue 7 calendar days
after the time to file a petition for rehearing expires, or 7
calendar days after entry of an order denying a timely petition for
panel rehearing, petition for rehearing en banc, or motion for stay
of mandate, whichever is later. The court may shorten or extend the
time.
(c) Effective Date. The mandate is effective when issued.
(d) Staying the Mandate.
(1) On Petition for Rehearing or Motion. The timely filing of a
petition for panel rehearing, petition for rehearing en banc, or
motion for stay of mandate, stays the mandate until disposition
of the petition or motion, unless the court orders otherwise.
(2) Pending Petition for Certiorari.
(A) A party may move to stay the mandate pending the filing
of a petition for a writ of certiorari in the Supreme Court.
The motion must be served on all parties and must show that the
certiorari petition would present a substantial question and
that there is good cause for a stay.
(B) The stay must not exceed 90 days, unless the period is
extended for good cause or unless the party who obtained the
stay files a petition for the writ and so notifies the circuit
clerk in writing within the period of the stay. In that case,
the stay continues until the Supreme Court's final disposition.
(C) The court may require a bond or other security as a
condition to granting or continuing a stay of the mandate.
(D) The court of appeals must issue the mandate immediately
when a copy of a Supreme Court order denying the petition for
writ of certiorari is filed.
-SOURCE-
(As amended Apr. 29, 1994, eff. Dec. 1, 1994; Apr. 24, 1998, eff.
Dec. 1, 1998; Apr. 29, 2002, eff. Dec. 1, 2002.)
-MISC1-
NOTES OF ADVISORY COMMITTEE ON RULES - 1967
The proposed rule follows the rule or practice in a majority of
circuits by which copies of the opinion and the judgment serve in
lieu of a formal mandate in the ordinary case. Compare Supreme
Court Rule 59. Although 28 U.S.C. Sec. 2101(c) permits a writ of
certiorari to be filed within 90 days after entry of judgment,
seven of the eight circuits which now regulate the matter of stays
pending application for certiorari limit the initial stay of the
mandate to the 30-day period provided in the proposed rule. Compare
D.C. Cir. Rule 27(e).
NOTES OF ADVISORY COMMITTEE ON RULES - 1994 AMENDMENT
Subdivision (a). The amendment conforms Rule 41(a) to the
amendment made to Rule 40(a). The amendment keys the time for
issuance of the mandate to the expiration of the time for filing a
petition for rehearing, unless such a petition is filed in which
case the mandate issues 7 days after the entry of the order denying
the petition. Because the amendment to Rule 40(a) lengthens the
time for filing a petition for rehearing in civil cases involving
the United States from 14 to 45 days, the rule requiring the
mandate to issue 21 days after the entry of judgment would cause
the mandate to issue while the government is still considering
requesting a rehearing. Therefore, the amendment generally requires
the mandate to issue 7 days after the expiration of the time for
filing a petition for rehearing.
Subdivision (b). The amendment requires a party who files a
motion requesting a stay of mandate to file, at the same time,
proof of service on all other parties. The old rule required the
party to give notice to the other parties; the amendment merely
requires the party to provide the court with evidence of having
done so.
The amendment also states that the motion must show that a
petition for certiorari would present a substantial question and
that there is good cause for a stay. The amendment is intended to
alert the parties to the fact that a stay of mandate is not granted
automatically and to the type of showing that needs to be made. The
Supreme Court has established conditions that must be met before it
will stay a mandate. See Robert L. Stern et al., Supreme Court
Practice Sec. 17.19 (6th ed. 1986).
COMMITTEE NOTES ON RULES - 1998 AMENDMENT
The language and organization of the rule are amended to make the
rule more easily understood. In addition to changes made to improve
the understanding, the Advisory Committee has changed language to
make style and terminology consistent throughout the appellate
rules. These changes are intended to be stylistic only.
Several substantive changes are made in this rule, however.
Subdivision (b). The existing rule provides that the mandate
issues 7 days after the time to file a petition for panel rehearing
expires unless such a petition is timely filed. If the petition is
denied, the mandate issues 7 days after entry of the order denying
the petition. Those provisions are retained but the amendments
further provide that if a timely petition for rehearing en banc or
motion for stay of mandate is filed, the mandate does not issue
until 7 days after entry of an order denying the last of all such
requests. If a petition for rehearing or a petition for rehearing
en banc is granted, the court enters a new judgment after the
rehearing and the mandate issues within the normal time after entry
of that judgment.
Subdivision (c). Subdivision (c) is new. It provides that the
mandate is effective when the court issues it. A court of appeals'
judgment or order is not final until issuance of the mandate; at
that time the parties' obligations become fixed. This amendment is
intended to make it clear that the mandate is effective upon
issuance and that its effectiveness is not delayed until receipt of
the mandate by the trial court or agency, or until the trial court
or agency acts upon it. This amendment is consistent with the
current understanding. Unless the court orders that the mandate
issue earlier than provided in the rule, the parties can easily
calculate the anticipated date of issuance and verify issuance with
the clerk's office. In those instances in which the court orders
earlier issuance of the mandate, the entry of the order on the
docket alerts the parties to that fact.
Subdivision (d). Amended paragraph (1) provides that the filing
of a petition for panel rehearing, a petition for rehearing en banc
or a motion for a stay of mandate pending petition to the Supreme
Court for a writ of certiorari stays the issuance of the mandate
until the court disposes of the petition or motion. The provision
that a petition for rehearing en banc stays the mandate is a
companion to the amendment of Rule 35 that deletes the language
stating that a request for a rehearing en banc does not affect the
finality of the judgment or stay the issuance of the mandate. The
Committee's objective is to treat a request for a rehearing en banc
like a petition for panel rehearing so that a request for a
rehearing en banc will suspend the finality of the court of
appeals' judgment and delay the running of the period for filing a
petition for writ of certiorari. Because the filing of a petition
for rehearing en banc will stay the mandate, a court of appeals
will need to take final action on the petition but the procedure
for doing so is left to local practice.
Paragraph (1) also provides that the filing of a motion for a
stay of mandate pending petition to the Supreme Court for a writ of
certiorari stays the mandate until the court disposes of the
motion. If the court denies the motion, the court must issue the
mandate 7 days after entering the order denying the motion. If the
court grants the motion, the mandate is stayed according to the
terms of the order granting the stay. Delaying issuance of the
mandate eliminates the need to recall the mandate if the motion for
a stay is granted. If, however, the court believes that it would be
inappropriate to delay issuance of the mandate until disposition of
the motion for a stay, the court may order that the mandate issue
immediately.
Paragraph (2). The amendment changes the maximum period for a
stay of mandate, absent the court of appeals granting an extension
for cause, to 90 days. The presumptive 30-day period was adopted
when a party had to file a petition for a writ of certiorari in
criminal cases within 30 days after entry of judgment. Supreme
Court Rule 13.1 now provides that a party has 90 days after entry
of judgment by a court of appeals to file a petition for a writ of
certiorari whether the case is civil or criminal.
The amendment does not require a court of appeals to grant a stay
of mandate that is coextensive with the period granted for filing a
petition for a writ of certiorari. The granting of a stay and the
length of the stay remain within the discretion of the court of
appeals. The amendment means only that a 90-day stay may be granted
without a need to show cause for a stay longer than 30 days.
Subparagraph (C) is not new; it has been moved from the end of
the rule to this position.
COMMITTEE NOTES ON RULES - 2002 AMENDMENT
Subdivision (b). Subdivision (b) directs that the mandate of a
court must issue 7 days after the time to file a petition for
rehearing expires or 7 days after the court denies a timely
petition for panel rehearing, petition for rehearing en banc, or
motion for stay of mandate, whichever is later. Intermediate
Saturdays, Sundays, and legal holidays are counted in computing
that 7-day deadline, which means that, except when the 7-day
deadline ends on a weekend or legal holiday, the mandate issues
exactly one week after the triggering event.
Fed. R. App. P. 26(a)(2) has been amended to provide that, in
computing any period of time, one should "[e]xclude intermediate
Saturdays, Sundays, and legal holidays when the period is less than
11 days, unless stated in calendar days." This change in the method
of computing deadlines means that 7-day deadlines (such as that in
subdivision (b)) have been lengthened as a practical matter. Under
the new computation method, a mandate would never issue sooner than
9 actual days after a triggering event, and legal holidays could
extend that period to as much as 13 days.
Delaying mandates for 9 or more days would introduce significant
and unwarranted delay into appellate proceedings. For that reason,
subdivision (b) has been amended to require that mandates issue 7
calendar days after a triggering event.
Changes Made After Publication and Comments. No changes were made
to the text of the proposed amendment or to the Committee Note.
-End-
-CITE-
28 USC APPENDIX Rule 42 01/06/03
-EXPCITE-
TITLE 28 - APPENDIX
FEDERAL RULES OF APPELLATE PROCEDURE
TITLE VII. GENERAL PROVISIONS
-HEAD-
Rule 42. Voluntary Dismissal
-STATUTE-
(a) Dismissal in the District Court. Before an appeal has been
docketed by the circuit clerk, the district court may dismiss the
appeal on the filing of a stipulation signed by all parties or on
the appellant's motion with notice to all parties.
(b) Dismissal in the Court of Appeals. The circuit clerk may
dismiss a docketed appeal if the parties file a signed dismissal
agreement specifying how costs are to be paid and pay any fees that
are due. But no mandate or other process may issue without a court
order. An appeal may be dismissed on the appellant's motion on
terms agreed to by the parties or fixed by the court.
-SOURCE-
(As amended Apr. 24, 1998, eff. Dec. 1, 1998.)
-MISC1-
NOTES OF ADVISORY COMMITTEE ON RULES - 1967
Subdivision (a). This subdivision is derived from FRCP 73(a)
without change of substance.
Subdivision (b). The first sentence is a common provision in
present circuit rules. The second sentence is added. Compare
Supreme Court Rule 60.
COMMITTEE NOTES ON RULES - 1998 AMENDMENT
The language of the rule is amended to make the rule more easily
understood. In addition to changes made to improve the
understanding, the Advisory Committee has changed language to make
style and terminology consistent throughout the appellate rules.
These changes are intended to be stylistic only.
-End-
-CITE-
28 USC APPENDIX Rule 43 01/06/03
-EXPCITE-
TITLE 28 - APPENDIX
FEDERAL RULES OF APPELLATE PROCEDURE
TITLE VII. GENERAL PROVISIONS
-HEAD-
Rule 43. Substitution of Parties
-STATUTE-
(a) Death of a Party.
(1) After Notice of Appeal Is Filed. If a party dies after a
notice of appeal has been filed or while a proceeding is pending
in the court of appeals, the decedent's personal representative
may be substituted as a party on motion filed with the circuit
clerk by the representative or by any party. A party's motion
must be served on the representative in accordance with Rule 25.
If the decedent has no representative, any party may suggest the
death on the record, and the court of appeals may then direct
appropriate proceedings.
(2) Before Notice of Appeal Is Filed - Potential Appellant. If
a party entitled to appeal dies before filing a notice of appeal,
the decedent's personal representative - or, if there is no
personal representative, the decedent's attorney of record - may
file a notice of appeal within the time prescribed by these
rules. After the notice of appeal is filed, substitution must be
in accordance with Rule 43(a)(1).
(3) Before Notice of Appeal Is Filed - Potential Appellee. If a
party against whom an appeal may be taken dies after entry of a
judgment or order in the district court, but before a notice of
appeal is filed, an appellant may proceed as if the death had not
occurred. After the notice of appeal is filed, substitution must
be in accordance with Rule 43(a)(1).
(b) Substitution for a Reason Other Than Death. If a party needs
to be substituted for any reason other than death, the procedure
prescribed in Rule 43(a) applies.
(c) Public Officer: Identification; Substitution.
(1) Identification of Party. A public officer who is a party to
an appeal or other proceeding in an official capacity may be
described as a party by the public officer's official title
rather than by name. But the court may require the public
officer's name to be added.
(2) Automatic Substitution of Officeholder. When a public
officer who is a party to an appeal or other proceeding in an
official capacity dies, resigns, or otherwise ceases to hold
office, the action does not abate. The public officer's successor
is automatically substituted as a party. Proceedings following
the substitution are to be in the name of the substituted party,
but any misnomer that does not affect the substantial rights of
the parties may be disregarded. An order of substitution may be
entered at any time, but failure to enter an order does not
affect the substitution.
-SOURCE-
(As amended Mar. 10, 1986, eff. July 1, 1986; Apr. 24, 1998, eff.
Dec. 1, 1998.)
-MISC1-
NOTES OF ADVISORY COMMITTEE ON RULES - 1967
Subdivision (a). The first three sentences described a procedure
similar to the rule on substitution in civil actions in the
district court. See FRCP 25(a). The fourth sentence expressly
authorizes an appeal to be taken against one who has died after the
entry of judgment. Compare FRCP 73(b), which impliedly authorizes
such an appeal.
The sixth sentence authorizes an attorney of record for the
deceased to take an appeal on behalf of successors in interest if
the deceased has no representative. At present, if a party entitled
to appeal dies before the notice of appeal is filed, the appeal can
presumably be taken only by his legal representative and must be
taken within the time ordinarily prescribed. 13 Cyclopedia of
Federal Procedure (3d Ed.) Sec. 63.21. The states commonly make
special provisions for the event of the death of a party entitled
to appeal, usually by extending the time otherwise prescribed.
Rules of Civil Procedure for Superior Courts of Arizona, Rule
73(t), 16 A.R.S.; New Jersey Rev. Rules 1:3-3; New York Civil
Practice Law and Rules, Sec. 1022; Wisconsin Statutes Ann.
274.01(2). The provision in the proposed rule is derived from
California Code of Civil Procedure, Sec. 941.
Subdivision (c). This subdivision is derived from FRCP 25(d) and
Supreme Court Rule 48, with appropriate changes.
NOTES OF ADVISORY COMMITTEE ON RULES - 1986 AMENDMENT
The amendments to Rules 43(a) and (c) are technical. No
substantive change is intended.
COMMITTEE NOTES ON RULES - 1998 AMENDMENT
The language and organization of the rule are amended to make the
rule more easily understood. In addition to changes made to improve
the understanding, the Advisory Committee has changed language to
make style and terminology consistent throughout the appellate
rules. These changes are intended to be stylistic only.
-End-
-CITE-
28 USC APPENDIX Rule 44 01/06/03
-EXPCITE-
TITLE 28 - APPENDIX
FEDERAL RULES OF APPELLATE PROCEDURE
TITLE VII. GENERAL PROVISIONS
-HEAD-
Rule 44. Case Involving a Constitutional Question When the United
States or the Relevant State is Not a Party
-STATUTE-
(a) Constitutional Challenge to Federal Statute. If a party
questions the constitutionality of an Act of Congress in a
proceeding in which the United States or its agency, officer, or
employee is not a party in an official capacity, the questioning
party must give written notice to the circuit clerk immediately
upon the filing of the record or as soon as the question is raised
in the court of appeals. The clerk must then certify that fact to
the Attorney General.
(b) Constitutional Challenge to State Statute. If a party
questions the constitutionality of a statute of a State in a
proceeding in which that State or its agency, officer, or employee
is not a party in an official capacity, the questioning party must
give written notice to the circuit clerk immediately upon the
filing of the record or as soon as the question is raised in the
court of appeals. The clerk must then certify that fact to the
attorney general of the State.
-SOURCE-
(As amended Apr. 24, 1998, eff. Dec. 1, 1998; Apr. 29, 2002, eff.
Dec. 1, 2002.)
-MISC1-
NOTES OF ADVISORY COMMITTEE ON RULES - 1967
This rule is now found in the rules of a majority of the
circuits. It is in response to the Act of August 24, 1937 (28
U.S.C. Sec. 2403), which requires all courts of the United States
to advise the Attorney General of the existence of an action or
proceeding of the kind described in the rule.
COMMITTEE NOTES ON RULES - 1998 AMENDMENT
The language of the rule is amended to make the rule more easily
understood. In addition to changes made to improve the
understanding, the Advisory Committee has changed language to make
style and terminology consistent throughout the appellate rules.
These changes are intended to be stylistic only.
COMMITTEE NOTES ON RULES - 2002 AMENDMENT
Rule 44 requires that a party who "questions the
constitutionality of an Act of Congress" in a proceeding in which
the United States is not a party must provide written notice of
that challenge to the clerk. Rule 44 is designed to implement 28
U.S.C. Sec. 2403(a), which states that: "In any action, suit or
proceeding in a court of the United States to which the United
States or any agency, officer or employee thereof is not a party,
wherein the constitutionality of any Act of Congress affecting the
public interest is drawn in question, the court shall certify such
fact to the Attorney General, and shall permit the United States to
intervene . . . for argument on the question of constitutionality."
The subsequent section of the statute - Sec. 2403(b) - contains
virtually identical language imposing upon the courts the duty to
notify the attorney general of a state of a constitutional
challenge to any statute of that state. But Sec. 2403(b), unlike
Sec. 2403(a), was not implemented in Rule 44.
Rule 44 has been amended to correct this omission. The text of
former Rule 44 regarding constitutional challenges to federal
statutes now appears as Rule 44(a), while new language regarding
constitutional challenges to state statutes now appears as Rule
44(b).
Changes Made After Publication and Comments. No changes were made
to the text of the proposed amendment or to the Committee Note.
-End-
-CITE-
28 USC APPENDIX Rule 45 01/06/03
-EXPCITE-
TITLE 28 - APPENDIX
FEDERAL RULES OF APPELLATE PROCEDURE
TITLE VII. GENERAL PROVISIONS
-HEAD-
Rule 45. Clerk's Duties
-STATUTE-
(a) General Provisions.
(1) Qualifications. The circuit clerk must take the oath and
post any bond required by law. Neither the clerk nor any deputy
clerk may practice as an attorney or counselor in any court while
in office.
(2) When Court Is Open. The court of appeals is always open for
filing any paper, issuing and returning process, making a motion,
and entering an order. The clerk's office with the clerk or a
deputy in attendance must be open during business hours on all
days except Saturdays, Sundays, and legal holidays. A court may
provide by local rule or by order that the clerk's office be open
for specified hours on Saturdays or on legal holidays other than
New Year's Day, Martin Luther King, Jr.'s Birthday, Presidents'
Day, Memorial Day, Independence Day, Labor Day, Columbus Day,
Veterans' Day, Thanksgiving Day, and Christmas Day.
(b) Records.
(1) The Docket. The circuit clerk must maintain a docket and an
index of all docketed cases in the manner prescribed by the
Director of the Administrative Office of the United States
Courts. The clerk must record all papers filed with the clerk and
all process, orders, and judgments.
(2) Calendar. Under the court's direction, the clerk must
prepare a calendar of cases awaiting argument. In placing cases
on the calendar for argument, the clerk must give preference to
appeals in criminal cases and to other proceedings and appeals
entitled to preference by law.
(3) Other Records. The clerk must keep other books and records
required by the Director of the Administrative Office of the
United States Courts, with the approval of the Judicial
Conference of the United States, or by the court.
(c) Notice of an Order or Judgment. Upon the entry of an order or
judgment, the circuit clerk must immediately serve a notice of
entry on each party, with a copy of any opinion, and must note the
date of service on the docket. Service on a party represented by
counsel must be made on counsel.
(d) Custody of Records and Papers. The circuit clerk has custody
of the court's records and papers. Unless the court orders or
instructs otherwise, the clerk must not permit an original record
or paper to be taken from the clerk's office. Upon disposition of
the case, original papers constituting the record on appeal or
review must be returned to the court or agency from which they were
received. The clerk must preserve a copy of any brief, appendix, or
other paper that has been filed.
-SOURCE-
(As amended Mar. 1, 1971, eff. July 1, 1971; Mar. 10, 1986, eff.
July 1, 1986; Apr. 24, 1998, eff. Dec. 1, 1998; Apr. 29, 2002, eff.
Dec. 1, 2002.)
-MISC1-
NOTES OF ADVISORY COMMITTEE ON RULES - 1967
The duties imposed upon clerks of the courts of appeals by this
rule are those imposed by rule or practice in a majority of the
circuits. The second sentence of subdivision (a) authorizing the
closing of the clerk's office on Saturday and non-national legal
holidays follows a similar provision respecting the district court
clerk's office found in FRCP 77(c) and in FRCrP 56.
NOTES OF ADVISORY COMMITTEE ON RULES - 1971 AMENDMENT
The amendment adds Columbus Day to the list of legal holidays.
See the Note accompanying the amendment of Rule 26(a).
NOTES OF ADVISORY COMMITTEE ON RULES - 1986 AMENDMENT
The amendment to Rule 45(b) permits the courts of appeals to
maintain computerized dockets. The Committee believes that the
Administrative Office of the United States Courts ought to have
maximum flexibility in prescribing the format of this docket in
order to ensure a smooth transition from manual to automated
systems and subsequent adaptation to technological improvements.
The amendments to Rules 45(a) and (d) are technical. No
substantive change is intended. The Birthday of Martin Luther King,
Jr. has been added to the list of national holidays.
COMMITTEE NOTES ON RULES - 1998 AMENDMENT
The language and organization of the rule are amended to make the
rule more easily understood. In addition to changes made to improve
the understanding, the Advisory Committee has changed language to
make style and terminology consistent throughout the appellate
rules. These changes are intended to be stylistic only.
COMMITTEE NOTES ON RULES - 2002 AMENDMENT
Subdivision (c). Subdivision (c) has been amended so that the
clerk may use electronic means to serve notice of entry of an order
or judgment upon parties who have consented to such service.
Changes Made After Publication and Comments. No changes were made
to the text of the proposed amendment or to the Committee Note.
-End-
-CITE-
28 USC APPENDIX Rule 46 01/06/03
-EXPCITE-
TITLE 28 - APPENDIX
FEDERAL RULES OF APPELLATE PROCEDURE
TITLE VII. GENERAL PROVISIONS
-HEAD-
Rule 46. Attorneys
-STATUTE-
(a) Admission to the Bar.
(1) Eligibility. An attorney is eligible for admission to the
bar of a court of appeals if that attorney is of good moral and
professional character and is admitted to practice before the
Supreme Court of the United States, the highest court of a state,
another United States court of appeals, or a United States
district court (including the district courts for Guam, the
Northern Mariana Islands, and the Virgin Islands).
(2) Application. An applicant must file an application for
admission, on a form approved by the court that contains the
applicant's personal statement showing eligibility for
membership. The applicant must subscribe to the following oath or
affirmation:
"I, ____________, do solemnly swear [or affirm] that I will
conduct myself as an attorney and counselor of this court,
uprightly and according to law; and that I will support the
Constitution of the United States."
(3) Admission Procedures. On written or oral motion of a member
of the court's bar, the court will act on the application. An
applicant may be admitted by oral motion in open court. But,
unless the court orders otherwise, an applicant need not appear
before the court to be admitted. Upon admission, an applicant
must pay the clerk the fee prescribed by local rule or court
order.
(b) Suspension or Disbarment.
(1) Standard. A member of the court's bar is subject to
suspension or disbarment by the court if the member:
(A) has been suspended or disbarred from practice in any
other court; or
(B) is guilty of conduct unbecoming a member of the court's
bar.
(2) Procedure. The member must be given an opportunity to show
good cause, within the time prescribed by the court, why the
member should not be suspended or disbarred.
(3) Order. The court must enter an appropriate order after the
member responds and a hearing is held, if requested, or after the
time prescribed for a response expires, if no response is made.
(c) Discipline. A court of appeals may discipline an attorney who
practices before it for conduct unbecoming a member of the bar or
for failure to comply with any court rule. First, however, the
court must afford the attorney reasonable notice, an opportunity to
show cause to the contrary, and, if requested, a hearing.
-SOURCE-
(As amended Mar. 10, 1986, eff. July 1, 1986; Apr. 24, 1998, eff.
Dec. 1, 1998.)
-MISC1-
NOTES OF ADVISORY COMMITTEE ON RULES - 1967
Subdivision (a). The basic requirement of membership in the bar
of the Supreme Court, or of the highest court of a state, or in
another court of appeals or a district court is found, with minor
variations, in the rules of ten circuits. The only other
requirement in those circuits is that the applicant be of good
moral and professional character. In the District of Columbia
Circuit applicants other than members of the District of Columbia
District bar or the Supreme Court bar must claim membership in the
bar of the highest court of a state, territory or possession for
three years prior to application for admission (D.C. Cir. Rule 7).
Members of the District of Columbia District bar and the Supreme
Court bar again excepted, applicants for admission to the District
of Columbia Circuit bar must meet precisely defined prelaw and law
school study requirements (D.C. Cir. Rule 7 1/2 ).
A few circuits now require that application for admission be made
by oral motion by a sponsor member in open court. The proposed rule
permits both the application and the motion by the sponsor member
to be in writing, and permits action on the motion without the
appearance of the applicant or the sponsor, unless the court
otherwise orders.
Subdivision (b). The provision respecting suspension or
disbarment is uniform. Third Circuit Rule 8(3) is typical.
Subdivision (c). At present only Fourth Circuit Rule 36 contains
an equivalent provision. The purpose of this provision is to make
explicit the power of a court of appeals to impose sanctions less
serious than suspension or disbarment for the breach of rules. It
also affords some measure of control over attorneys who are not
members of the bar of the court. Several circuits permit a
non-member attorney to file briefs and motions, membership being
required only at the time of oral argument. And several circuits
permit argument pro hac vice by non-member attorneys.
NOTES OF ADVISORY COMMITTEE ON RULES - 1986 AMENDMENT
The amendments to Rules 46(a) and (b) are technical. No
substantive change is intended.
COMMITTEE NOTES ON RULES - 1998 AMENDMENT
The language and organization of the rule are amended to make the
rule more easily understood. In addition to changes made to improve
the understanding, the Advisory Committee has changed language to
make style and terminology consistent throughout the appellate
rules. These changes are intended to be stylistic only.
-End-
-CITE-
28 USC APPENDIX Rule 47 01/06/03
-EXPCITE-
TITLE 28 - APPENDIX
FEDERAL RULES OF APPELLATE PROCEDURE
TITLE VII. GENERAL PROVISIONS
-HEAD-
Rule 47. Local Rules by Courts of Appeals
-STATUTE-
(a) Local Rules.
(1) Each court of appeals acting by a majority of its judges in
regular active service may, after giving appropriate public
notice and opportunity for comment, make and amend rules
governing its practice. A generally applicable direction to
parties or lawyers regarding practice before a court must be in a
local rule rather than an internal operating procedure or
standing order. A local rule must be consistent with - but not
duplicative of - Acts of Congress and rules adopted under 28
U.S.C. Sec. 2072 and must conform to any uniform numbering system
prescribed by the Judicial Conference of the United States. Each
circuit clerk must send the Administrative Office of the United
States Courts a copy of each local rule and internal operating
procedure when it is promulgated or amended.
(2) A local rule imposing a requirement of form must not be
enforced in a manner that causes a party to lose rights because
of a nonwillful failure to comply with the requirement.
(b) Procedure When There Is No Controlling Law. A court of
appeals may regulate practice in a particular case in any manner
consistent with federal law, these rules, and local rules of the
circuit. No sanction or other disadvantage may be imposed for
noncompliance with any requirement not in federal law, federal
rules, or the local circuit rules unless the alleged violator has
been furnished in the particular case with actual notice of the
requirement.
-SOURCE-
(As amended Apr. 27, 1995, eff. Dec. 1, 1995; Apr. 24, 1998, eff.
Dec. 1, 1998.)
-MISC1-
NOTES OF ADVISORY COMMITTEE ON RULES - 1967
This rule continues the authority now vested in individual courts
of appeals by 28 U.S.C. Sec. 2071 to make rules consistent with
rules of practice and procedure promulgated by the Supreme Court.
NOTES OF ADVISORY COMMITTEE ON RULES - 1995 AMENDMENT
Subdivision (a). This rule is amended to require that a generally
applicable direction regarding practice before a court of appeals
must be in a local rule rather than an internal operating procedure
or some other general directive. It is the intent of this rule that
a local rule may not bar any practice that these rules explicitly
or implicitly permit. Subdivision (b) allows a court of appeals to
regulate practice in an individual case by entry of an order in the
case. The amendment also reflects the requirement that local rules
be consistent not only with the national rules but also with Acts
of Congress. The amendment also states that local rules should not
repeat national rules and Acts of Congress.
The amendment also requires that the numbering of local rules
conform with any uniform numbering system that may be prescribed by
the Judicial Conference. Lack of uniform numbering might create
unnecessary traps for counsel and litigants. A uniform numbering
system would make it easier for an increasingly national bar and
for litigants to locate a local rule that applies to a particular
procedural issue.
Paragraph (2) is new. Its aim is to protect against loss of
rights in the enforcement of local rules relating to matters of
form. The proscription of paragraph (2) is narrowly drawn -
covering only violations that are not willful and only those
involving local rules directed to matters of form. It does not
limit the court's power to impose substantive penalties upon a
party if it or its attorney stubbornly or repeatedly violates a
local rule, even one involving merely a matter of form. Nor does it
affect the court's power to enforce local rules that involve more
than mere matters of form.
Subdivision (b). This rule provides flexibility to the court in
regulating practice in a particular case when there is no
controlling law. Specifically, it permits the court to regulate
practice in any manner consistent with Acts of Congress, with rules
adopted under 28 U.S.C. Sec. 2072, and with the circuit's local
rules.
The amendment to this rule disapproves imposing any sanction or
other disadvantage on a person for noncompliance with such a
directive, unless the alleged violator has been furnished in a
particular case with actual notice of the requirement. There should
be no adverse consequence to a party or attorney for violating
special requirements relating to practice before a particular court
unless the party or attorney has actual notice of those
requirements.
COMMITTEE NOTES ON RULES - 1998 AMENDMENT
The language of the rule is amended to make the rule more easily
understood. In addition to changes made to improve the
understanding, the Advisory Committee has changed language to make
style and terminology consistent throughout the appellate rules.
These changes are intended to be stylistic only.
-End-
-CITE-
28 USC APPENDIX Rule 48 01/06/03
-EXPCITE-
TITLE 28 - APPENDIX
FEDERAL RULES OF APPELLATE PROCEDURE
TITLE VII. GENERAL PROVISIONS
-HEAD-
Rule 48. Masters
-STATUTE-
(a) Appointment; Powers. A court of appeals may appoint a special
master to hold hearings, if necessary, and to recommend factual
findings and disposition in matters ancillary to proceedings in the
court. Unless the order referring a matter to a master specifies or
limits the master's powers, those powers include, but are not
limited to, the following:
(1) regulating all aspects of a hearing;
(2) taking all appropriate action for the efficient performance
of the master's duties under the order;
(3) requiring the production of evidence on all matters
embraced in the reference; and
(4) administering oaths and examining witnesses and parties.
(b) Compensation. If the master is not a judge or court employee,
the court must determine the master's compensation and whether the
cost is to be charged to any party.
-SOURCE-
(As amended Apr. 29, 1994, eff. Dec. 1, 1994; Apr. 24, 1998, eff.
Dec. 1, 1998.)
-MISC1-
NOTES OF ADVISORY COMMITTEE ON RULES - 1994 AMENDMENT
The text of the existing Rule 48 concerning the title was moved
to Rule 1.
This new Rule 48 authorizes a court of appeals to appoint a
special master to make recommendations concerning ancillary
matters. The courts of appeals have long used masters in contempt
proceedings where the issue is compliance with an enforcement
order. See Polish National Alliance v. NLRB, 159 F.2d 38 (7th Cir.
1946), NLRB v. Arcade-Sunshine Co., 132 F.2d 8 (D.C. Cir. 1942);
NLRB v. Remington Rand, Inc., 130 F.2d 919 (2d Cir. 1942). There
are other instances when the question before a court of appeals
requires a factual determination. An application for fees or
eligibility for Criminal Justice Act status on appeal are examples.
Ordinarily when a factual issue is unresolved, a court of appeals
remands the case to the district court or agency that originally
heard the case. It is not the Committee's intent to alter that
practice. However, when factual issues arise in the first instance
in the court of appeals, such as fees for representation on appeal,
it would be useful to have authority to refer such determinations
to a master for a recommendation.
COMMITTEE NOTES ON RULES - 1998 AMENDMENT
The language and organization of the rule are amended to make the
rule more easily understood. In addition to changes made to improve
the understanding, the Advisory Committee has changed language to
make style and terminology consistent throughout the appellate
rules. These changes are intended to be stylistic only.
-End-
-CITE-
28 USC APPENDIX APPENDIX OF FORMS 01/06/03
-EXPCITE-
TITLE 28 - APPENDIX
FEDERAL RULES OF APPELLATE PROCEDURE
APPENDIX OF FORMS
-HEAD-
APPENDIX OF FORMS
-End-
-CITE-
28 USC APPENDIX Form 1 01/06/03
-EXPCITE-
TITLE 28 - APPENDIX
FEDERAL RULES OF APPELLATE PROCEDURE
APPENDIX OF FORMS
-HEAD-
Form 1. Notice of Appeal to a Court of Appeals From a Judgment or
Order of a District Court
-STATUTE-
UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT FOR THE ____ DISTRICT OF ______
FILE NUMBER ____
A.B., Plaintiff
v.
] Notice of Appeal
C. D., Defendant
Notice is hereby given that ___(here name all parties taking the
appeal)___, (plaintiffs) (defendants) in the above named case,*
hereby appeal to the United States Court of Appeals for the ___
Circuit (from the final judgment) (from an order (describing it))
entered in this action on the ___ day of _________, 19_.
(s)____________
Attorney for ______
Address: ________
* See Rule 3(c) for permissible ways of identifying appellants.
-SOURCE-
(As amended Apr. 22, 1993, eff. Dec. 1, 1993.)
-End-
-CITE-
28 USC APPENDIX Form 2 01/06/03
-EXPCITE-
TITLE 28 - APPENDIX
FEDERAL RULES OF APPELLATE PROCEDURE
APPENDIX OF FORMS
-HEAD-
Form 2. Notice of Appeal to a Court of Appeals From a Decision of
the United States Tax Court
-STATUTE-
UNITED STATES TAX COURT
WASHINGTON, D.C.
A.B., Petitioner
v.
Commissioner of
] Docket No.____
Internal Revenue,
Respondent
Notice of Appeal
Notice is hereby given that ___(here name all parties taking the
appeal) *___ hereby appeal to the United States Court of Appeals
for the ___ Circuit from (that part of) the decision of this court
entered in the above captioned proceeding on the ____ day of
___________, 19_ (relating to __________).
(s)____________
Counsel for ______
Address: ________
* See Rule 3(c) for permissible ways of identifying appellants.
-SOURCE-
(As amended Apr. 22, 1993, eff. Dec. 1, 1993.)
-End-
-CITE-
28 USC APPENDIX Form 3 01/06/03
-EXPCITE-
TITLE 28 - APPENDIX
FEDERAL RULES OF APPELLATE PROCEDURE
APPENDIX OF FORMS
-HEAD-
Form 3. Petition for Review of Order of an Agency, Board,
Commission or Officer
-STATUTE-
UNITED STATES COURT OF APPEALS
FOR THE ____ CIRCUIT
A.B., Petitioner
v.
XYZ Commission,
] Petition for Review
Respondent
___(here name all parties bringing the petition) *___ hereby
petition the court for review of the Order of the XYZ Commission
(describe the order) entered on _____, 19_.
(s)_____________,
Attorney for Petitioners
Address:_________
* See Rule 15.
-SOURCE-
(As amended Apr. 22, 1993, eff. Dec. 1, 1993.)
-End-
-CITE-
28 USC APPENDIX Form 4 01/06/03
-EXPCITE-
TITLE 28 - APPENDIX
FEDERAL RULES OF APPELLATE PROCEDURE
APPENDIX OF FORMS
-HEAD-
Form 4. Affidavit to Accompany Motion for Leave to Appeal in Forma
Pauperis
-STATUTE-
<p><img src="http://uscode.house.gov/images/code03/images/Apf4p1.gif" width=576 height=579 alt="Image of item"><p>
<p><img src="http://uscode.house.gov/images/code03/images/Apf4p2.gif" width=576 height=579 alt="Image of item"><p>
<p><img src="http://uscode.house.gov/images/code03/images/Apf4p3.gif" width=576 height=579 alt="Image of item"><p>
<p><img src="http://uscode.house.gov/images/code03/images/Apf4p4.gif" width=576 height=579 alt="Image of item"><p>
(AS AMENDED APR. 24, 1998, EFF. DEC. 1, 1998.)
-End-
-CITE-
28 USC APPENDIX Form 5 01/06/03
-EXPCITE-
TITLE 28 - APPENDIX
FEDERAL RULES OF APPELLATE PROCEDURE
APPENDIX OF FORMS
-HEAD-
Form 5. Notice of Appeal to a Court of Appeals from a Judgment or
Order of a District Court or a Bankruptcy Appellate Panel
-STATUTE-
UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT FOR THE ____
DISTRICT OF ______
<p><img src="http://uscode.house.gov/images/code03/images/28AApF5.gif" width=576 height=579 alt="Image of item"><p>
Notice of Appeal to United States Court of Appeals for the ______
Circuit
________, the plaintiff [or defendant or other party] appeals to
the United States Court of Appeals for the ______ Circuit from the
final judgment [or order or decree] of the district court for the
district of ______ [or bankruptcy appellate panel of the ______
circuit], entered in this case on ______, 19__ [here describe the
judgment, order, or decree] __________
The parties to the judgment [or order or decree] appealed from
and the names and addresses of their respective attorneys are as
follows:
Dated ____________
Signed ____________
Attorney for Appellant
Address: ___________
______________
-SOURCE-
(As added Apr. 25, 1989, eff. Dec. 1, 1989.)
-End-
-CITE-
28 USC APPENDIX Form 6 01/06/03
-EXPCITE-
TITLE 28 - APPENDIX
FEDERAL RULES OF APPELLATE PROCEDURE
APPENDIX OF FORMS
-HEAD-
Form 6
-MISC1-
APPENDIX OF FORMS
<p><img src="http://uscode.house.gov/images/code03/images/28AAPF6.gif" width=576 height=579 alt="Image of item"><p>
(As added Apr. 29, 2002, eff. Dec. 1, 2002.)
COMMITTEE NOTES ON RULES - 2002 AMENDMENT
Changes Made After Publication and Comments. No changes were made
to the text of the proposed amendment or to the Committee Note.
-End-
-CITE-
28 USC APPENDIX - FEDERAL RULES OF CIVIL PROCEDURE 01/06/03
-EXPCITE-
TITLE 28 - APPENDIX
FEDERAL RULES OF CIVIL PROCEDURE
-HEAD-
FEDERAL RULES OF CIVIL PROCEDURE
-MISC1-
(AS AMENDED TO JANUARY 6, 2003)
HISTORICAL NOTE
The original Rules of Civil Procedure for the District Courts
were adopted by order of the Supreme Court on Dec. 20, 1937,
transmitted to Congress by the Attorney General on Jan. 3, 1938,
and became effective on Sept. 16, 1938.
The Rules have been amended Dec. 28, 1939, eff. Apr. 3, 1941;
Dec. 27, 1946, eff. Mar. 19, 1948; Dec. 29, 1948, eff. Oct. 20,
1949; Apr. 30, 1951, eff. Aug. 1, 1951; Apr. 17, 1961, eff. July
19, 1961; Jan. 21, 1963, eff. July 1, 1963; Feb. 28, 1966, eff.
July 1, 1966; Dec. 4, 1967, eff. July 1, 1968; Mar. 30, 1970, eff.
July 1, 1970; Mar. 1, 1971, eff. July 1, 1971; Nov. 20, 1972, and
Dec. 18, 1972, eff. July 1, 1975; Apr. 29, 1980, eff. Aug. 1, 1980;
Oct. 21, 1980, Pub. L. 96-481, title II, Sec. 205(a), (b), 94 Stat.
2330; Jan. 12, 1983, Pub. L. 97-462, Secs. 2-4, 96 Stat. 2527-2530,
eff. Feb. 26, 1983; Apr. 28, 1983, eff. Aug. 1, 1983; Apr. 29,
1985, eff. Aug. 1, 1985; Mar. 2, 1987, eff. Aug. 1, 1987; Apr. 25,
1988, eff. Aug. 1, 1988; Nov. 18, 1988, Pub. L. 100-690, title VII,
Secs. 7047(b), 7049, 7050, 102 Stat. 4401; Apr. 30, 1991, eff. Dec.
1, 1991; Dec. 9, 1991, Pub. L. 102-198, Sec. 11, 105 Stat. 1626;
Apr. 22, 1993, eff. Dec. 1, 1993; Apr. 27, 1995, eff. Dec. 1, 1995;
Apr. 23, 1996, eff. Dec. 1, 1996; Apr. 11, 1997, eff. Dec. 1, 1997;
Apr. 24, 1998, eff. Dec. 1, 1998; Apr. 26, 1999, eff. Dec. 1, 1999;
Apr. 17, 2000, eff. Dec. 1, 2000; Apr. 23, 2001, eff. Dec. 1, 2001;
Apr. 29, 2002, eff. Dec. 1, 2002.
-CROSS-
RULES OF THE SUPREME COURT OF THE UNITED STATES
Procedure in original actions in Supreme Court of the United
States, Federal Rules of Civil Procedure as guide, see rule 17,
this Appendix.
-MISC2-
I. SCOPE OF RULES - ONE FORM OF ACTION
Rule
1. Scope and Purpose of Rules.
2. One Form of Action.
II. COMMENCEMENT OF ACTION; SERVICE OF PROCESS, PLEADINGS, MOTIONS,
AND ORDERS
3. Commencement of Action.
4. Summons.
(a) Form.
(b) Issuance.
(c) Service with Complaint; by Whom Made.
(d) Waiver of Service; Duty to Save Costs of
Service; Request to Waive.
(e) Service Upon Individuals Within a Judicial
District of the United States.
(f) Service Upon Individuals in a Foreign Country.
(g) Service Upon Infants and Incompetent Persons.
(h) Service Upon Corporations and Associations.
(i) Serving the United States, Its Agencies,
Corporations, Officers, or Employees.
(j) Service Upon Foreign, State, or Local
Governments.
(k) Territorial Limits of Effective Service.
(l) Proof of Service.
(m) Time Limit for Service.
(n) Seizure of Property; Service of Summons Not
Feasible.
4.1. Service of Other Process.
(a) Generally.
(b) Enforcement of Orders: Commitment for Civil
Contempt.
5. Serving and Filing Pleadings and Other Papers.
(a) Service: When Required.
(b) Making Service.
(c) Same: Numerous Defendants.
(d) Filing; Certificate of Service.
(e) Filing With the Court Defined.
6. Time.
(a) Computation.
(b) Enlargement.
[(c) Rescinded.]
(d) For Motions - Affidavits.
(e) Additional Time After Service Under Rule
5(b)(2)(B), (C), or (D).
III. PLEADINGS AND MOTIONS
7. Pleadings Allowed; Form of Motions.
(a) Pleadings.
(b) Motions and Other Papers.
(c) Demurrers, Pleas, etc., Abolished.
7.1. Disclosure Statement.
(a) Who Must File: Nongovernmental Corporate Party.
(b) Time for Filing; Supplemental Filing.
8. General Rules of Pleading.
(a) Claims for Relief.
(b) Defenses; Form of Denials.
(c) Affirmative Defenses.
(d) Effect of Failure To Deny.
(e) Pleading To Be Concise and Direct; Consistency.
(f) Construction of Pleadings.
9. Pleading Special Matters.
(a) Capacity.
(b) Fraud, Mistake, Condition of the Mind.
(c) Conditions Precedent.
(d) Official Document or Act.
(e) Judgment.
(f) Time and Place.
(g) Special Damage.
(h) Admiralty and Maritime Claims.
10. Form of Pleadings.
(a) Caption; Names of Parties.
(b) Paragraphs; Separate Statements.
(c) Adoption by Reference; Exhibits.
11. Signing of Pleadings, Motions, and Other Papers;
Representations to Court; Sanctions.
(a) Signature.
(b) Representations to Court.
(c) Sanctions.
(1) How Initiated.
(A) By Motion.
(B) On Court's Initiative.
(2) Nature of Sanction; Limitations.
(3) Order.
(d) Inapplicability to Discovery.
12. Defenses and Objections - When and How Presented - By
Pleading or Motion - Motion for Judgment on the
Pleadings.
(a) When Presented.
(b) How Presented.
(c) Motion for Judgment on the Pleadings.
(d) Preliminary Hearings.
(e) Motion for More Definite Statement.
(f) Motion To Strike.
(g) Consolidation of Defenses in Motion.
(h) Waiver or Preservation of Certain Defenses.
13. Counterclaim and Cross-Claim.
(a) Compulsory Counterclaims.
(b) Permissive Counterclaims.
(c) Counterclaim Exceeding Opposing Claim.
(d) Counterclaim Against the United States.
(e) Counterclaim Maturing or Acquired After
Pleading.
(f) Omitted Counterclaim.
(g) Cross-Claim Against Co-Party.
(h) Joinder of Additional Parties.
(i) Separate Trials; Separate Judgments.
14. Third-Party Practice.
(a) When Defendant May Bring in Third Party.
(b) When Plaintiff May Bring in Third Party.
(c) Admiralty and Maritime Claims.
15. Amended and Supplemental Pleadings.
(a) Amendments.
(b) Amendments To Conform to the Evidence.
(c) Relation Back of Amendments.
(d) Supplemental Pleadings.
16. Pretrial Conferences; Scheduling; Management.
(a) Pretrial Conferences; Objectives.
(b) Scheduling and Planning.
(c) Subjects for Consideration at Pretrial
Conferences.
(d) Final Pretrial Conference.
(e) Pretrial Orders.
(f) Sanctions.
IV. PARTIES
17. Parties Plaintiff and Defendant; Capacity.
(a) Real Party in Interest.
(b) Capacity To Sue or Be Sued.
(c) Infants or Incompetent Persons.
18. Joinder of Claims and Remedies.
(a) Joinder of Claims.
(b) Joinder of Remedies; Fraudulent Conveyances.
19. Joinder of Persons Needed for Just Adjudication.
(a) Persons To Be Joined if Feasible.
(b) Determination by Court Whenever Joinder Not
Feasible.
(c) Pleading Reasons for Nonjoinder.
(d) Exception of Class Actions.
20. Permissive Joinder of Parties.
(a) Permissive Joinder.
(b) Separate Trials.
21. Misjoinder and Non-Joinder of Parties.
22. Interpleader.
23. Class Actions.
(a) Prerequisites to a Class Action.
(b) Class Actions Maintainable.
(c) Determination by Order Whether Class Action To
Be Maintained; Notice; Judgment; Actions
Conducted Partially as Class Actions.
(d) Orders in Conduct of Actions.
(e) Dismissal or Compromise.
(f) Appeals.
23.1. Derivative Actions by Shareholders.
23.2. Actions Relating to Unincorporated Associations.
24. Intervention.
(a) Intervention of Right.
(b) Permissive Intervention.
(c) Procedure.
25. Substitution of Parties.
(a) Death.
(b) Incompetency.
(c) Transfer of Interest.
(d) Public Officers; Death or Separation From
Office.
V. DEPOSITIONS AND DISCOVERY
26. General Provisions Governing Discovery; Duty of
Disclosure.
(a) Required Disclosures; Methods to Discover
Additional Matter.
(1) Initial Disclosures.
(2) Disclosure of Expert Testimony.
(3) Pretrial Disclosures.
(4) Form of Disclosures.
(5) Methods to Discover Additional Matter.
(b) Discovery Scope and Limits.
(1) In General.
(2) Limitations.
(3) Trial Preparation: Materials.
(4) Trial Preparation: Experts.
(5) Claims of Privilege or Protection of Trial
Preparation Materials.
(c) Protective Orders.
(d) Timing and Sequence of Discovery.
(e) Supplementation of Disclosures and Responses.
(f) Conference of Parties; Planning for Discovery.
(g) Signing of Disclosures, Discovery Requests,
Responses, and Objections.
27. Depositions Before Action or Pending Appeal.
(a) Before Action.
(1) Petition.
(2) Notice and Service.
(3) Order and Examination.
(4) Use of Deposition.
(b) Pending Appeal.
(c) Perpetuation by Action.
28. Persons Before Whom Depositions May Be Taken.
(a) Within the United States.
(b) In Foreign Countries.
(c) Disqualification for Interest.
29. Stipulations Regarding Discovery Procedure.
30. Depositions Upon Oral Examination.
(a) When Depositions May Be Taken; When Leave
Required.
(b) Notice of Examination: General Requirements;
Method of Recording; Production of Documents
and Things; Deposition of Organization;
Deposition by Telephone.
(c) Examination and Cross-Examination; Record of
Examination; Oath; Objections.
(d) Schedule and Duration; Motion to Terminate or
Limit Examination.
(e) Review by Witness; Changes; Signing.
(f) Certification and Delivery by Officer;
Exhibits; Copies.
(g) Failure To Attend or To Serve Subpoena;
Expenses.
31. Depositions Upon Written Questions.
(a) Serving Questions; Notice.
(b) Officer To Take Responses and Prepare Record.
(c) Notice of Filing.
32. Use of Depositions in Court Proceedings.
(a) Use of Depositions.
(b) Objections to Admissibility.
(c) Form of Presentation.
(d) Effect of Errors and Irregularities in
Depositions.
(1) As to Notice.
(2) As to Disqualification of Officer.
(3) As to Taking of Deposition.
(4) As to Completion and Return of Deposition.
33. Interrogatories to Parties.
(a) Availability.
(b) Answers and Objections.
(c) Scope; Use at Trial.
(d) Option to Produce Business Records.
34. Production of Documents and Things and Entry Upon Land
for Inspection and Other Purposes.
(a) Scope.
(b) Procedure.
(c) Persons Not Parties.
35. Physical and Mental Examinations of Persons.
(a) Order for Examination.
(b) Report of Examiner.
36. Requests for Admission.
(a) Request for Admission.
(b) Effect of Admission.
37. Failure to Make Disclosure or Cooperate in Discovery;
Sanctions.
(a) Motion for Order Compelling Disclosure or
Discovery.
(1) Appropriate Court.
(2) Motion.
(3) Evasive or Incomplete Disclosure, Answer, or
Response.
(4) Expenses and Sanctions.
(b) Failure To Comply With Order.
(1) Sanctions by Court in District Where
Deposition Is Taken.
(2) Sanctions by Court in Which Action Is
Pending.
(c) Failure to Disclose; False or Misleading
Disclosure; Refusal to Admit.
(d) Failure of Party to Attend at Own Deposition or
Serve Answers to Interrogatories or Respond to
Request for Inspection.
[(e) Abrogated.]
[(f) Repealed.]
(g) Failure to Participate in the Framing of a
Discovery Plan.
VI. TRIALS
38. Jury Trial of Right.
(a) Right Preserved.
(b) Demand.
(c) Same: Specification of Issues.
(d) Waiver.
(e) Admiralty and Maritime Claims.
39. Trial by Jury or by the Court.
(a) By Jury.
(b) By the Court.
(c) Advisory Jury and Trial by Consent.
40. Assignment of Cases for Trial.
41. Dismissal of Actions.
(a) Voluntary Dismissal: Effect Thereof.
(1) By Plaintiff; by Stipulation.
(2) By Order of Court.
(b) Involuntary Dismissal: Effect Thereof.
(c) Dismissal of Counterclaim, Cross-Claim, or
Third-Party Claim.
(d) Costs of Previously-Dismissed Action.
42. Consolidation; Separate Trials.
(a) Consolidation.
(b) Separate Trials.
43. Taking of Testimony.
(a) Form.
[(b),(c) Abrogated.]
(d) Affirmation in Lieu of Oath.
(e) Evidence on Motions.
(f) Interpreters.
44. Proof of Official Record.
(a) Authentication.
(1) Domestic.
(2) Foreign.
(b) Lack of Record.
(c) Other Proof.
44.1. Determination of Foreign Law.
45. Subpoena.
(a) Form; Issuance.
(b) Service.
(c) Protection of Persons Subject to Subpoenas.
(d) Duties in Responding to Subpoena.
(e) Contempt.
46. Exceptions Unnecessary.
47. Selection of Jurors.
(a) Examination of Jurors.
(b) Peremptory Challenges.
(c) Excuse.
48. Number of Jurors - Participation in Verdict.
49. Special Verdicts and Interrogatories.
(a) Special Verdicts.
(b) General Verdict Accompanied by Answer to
Interrogatories.
50. Judgment as a Matter of Law in Jury Trials;
Alternative Motion for New Trial; Conditional
Rulings.
(a) Judgment as a Matter of Law.
(b) Renewing Motion for Judgment After Trial;
Alternative Motion for New Trial.
(c) Granting Renewed Motion for Judgment as a
Matter of Law; Conditional Rulings; New Trial
Motion.
(d) Same: Denial of Motion for Judgment as a Matter
of Law.
51. Instructions to Jury: Objection.
52. Findings by the Court; Judgment on Partial Findings.
(a) Effect.
(b) Amendment.
(c) Judgment on Partial Findings.
53. Masters.
(a) Appointment and Compensation.
(b) Reference.
(c) Powers.
(d) Proceedings.
(1) Meetings.
(2) Witnesses.
(3) Statement of Accounts.
(e) Report.
(1) Contents and Filing.
(2) In Non-Jury Actions.
(3) In Jury Actions.
(4) Stipulation as to Findings.
(5) Draft Report.
(f) Application to Magistrate Judge.
VII. JUDGMENT
54. Judgments; Costs.
(a) Definition; Form.
(b) Judgment Upon Multiple Claims or Involving
Multiple Parties.
(c) Demand for Judgment.
(d) Costs; Attorneys' Fees.
(1) Costs Other than Attorneys' Fees.
(2) Attorneys' Fees.
55. Default.
(a) Entry.
(b) Judgment.
(1) By the Clerk.
(2) By the Court.
(c) Setting Aside Default.
(d) Plaintiffs, Counterclaimants, Cross-Claimants.
(e) Judgment Against the United States.
56. Summary Judgment.
(a) For Claimant.
(b) For Defending Party.
(c) Motion and Proceedings Thereon.
(d) Case Not Fully Adjudicated on Motion.
(e) Form of Affidavits; Further Testimony; Defense
Required.
(f) When Affidavits Are Unavailable.
(g) Affidavits Made in Bad Faith.
57. Declaratory Judgments.
58. Entry of Judgment.
(a) Separate Document.
(b) Time of Entry.
(c) Cost or Fee Awards.
(d) Request for Entry.
59. New Trials; Amendment of Judgments.
(a) Grounds.
(b) Time for Motion.
(c) Time for Serving Affidavits.
(d) On Court's Initiative; Notice; Specifying
Grounds.
(e) Motion to Alter or Amend Judgment.
60. Relief From Judgment or Order.
(a) Clerical Mistakes.
(b) Mistakes; Inadvertence; Excusable Neglect;
Newly Discovered Evidence; Fraud, Etc.
61. Harmless Error.
62. Stay of Proceedings To Enforce a Judgment.
(a) Automatic Stay; Exceptions - Injunctions,
Receiverships, and Patent Accountings.
(b) Stay on Motion for New Trial or for Judgment.
(c) Injunction Pending Appeal.
(d) Stay Upon Appeal.
(e) Stay in Favor of the United States or Agency
Thereof.
(f) Stay According to State Law.
(g) Power of Appellate Court Not Limited.
(h) Stay of Judgment as to Multiple Claims or
Multiple Parties.
63. Inability of a Judge to Proceed.
VIII. PROVISIONAL AND FINAL REMEDIES
64. Seizure of Person or Property.
65. Injunctions.
(a) Preliminary Injunction.
(1) Notice.
(2) Consolidation of Hearing With Trial on
Merits.
(b) Temporary Restraining Order; Notice; Hearing;
Duration.
(c) Security.
(d) Form and Scope of Injunction or Restraining
Order.
(e) Employer and Employee; Interpleader;
Constitutional Cases.
(f) Copyright Impoundment.
65.1 Security: Proceedings Against Sureties.
66. Receivers Appointed by Federal Courts.
67. Deposit in Court.
68. Offer of Judgment.
69. Execution.
(a) In General.
(b) Against Certain Public Officers.
70. Judgment for Specific Acts; Vesting Title.
71. Process in Behalf of and Against Persons Not Parties.
IX. SPECIAL PROCEEDINGS
71A. Condemnation of Property.
(a) Applicability of Other Rules.
(b) Joinder of Properties.
(c) Complaint.
(1) Caption.
(2) Contents.
(3) Filing.
(d) Process.
(1) Notice; Delivery.
(2) Same; Form.
(3) Service of Notice.
(A) Personal Service.
(B) Service by Publication.
(4) Return; Amendment.
(e) Appearance or Answer.
(f) Amendment of Pleadings.
(g) Substitution of Parties.
(h) Trial.
(i) Dismissal of Action.
(1) As of Right.
(2) By Stipulation.
(3) By Order of the Court.
(4) Effect.
(j) Deposit and Its Distribution.
(k) Condemnation Under a State's Power of Eminent
Domain.
(l) Costs.
72. Magistrate Judges; Pretrial Orders.
(a) Nondispositive Matters.
(b) Dispositive Motions and Prisoner Petitions.
73. Magistrate Judges; Trial by Consent and Appeal.
(a) Powers; Procedure.
(b) Consent.
(c) Appeal.
[(d) Abrogated.]
[74 to 76. Abrogated.]
X. DISTRICT COURTS AND CLERKS
77. District Courts and Clerks.
(a) District Courts Always Open.
(b) Trials and Hearings; Orders in Chambers.
(c) Clerk's Office and Orders by Clerk.
(d) Notice of Orders or Judgments.
78. Motion Day.
79. Books and Records Kept by the Clerk and Entries
Therein.
(a) Civil Docket.
(b) Civil Judgments and Orders.
(c) Indices; Calendars.
(d) Other Books and Records of the Clerk.
80. Stenographer; Stenographic Report or Transcript as
Evidence.
[(a),(b) Abrogated.]
(c) Stenographic Report or Transcript as Evidence.
XI. GENERAL PROVISIONS
81. Applicability in General.
(a) Proceedings to Which the Rules Apply.
(b) Scire Facias and Mandamus.
(c) Removed Actions.
[(d) Abrogated.]
(e) Law Applicable.
(f) References to Officer of the United States.
82. Jurisdiction and Venue Unaffected.
83. Rules by District Courts; Judge's Directives.
(a) Local Rules.
(b) Procedures When There is No Controlling Law.
84. Forms.
85. Title.
86. Effective Date.
(a) [Effective Date of Original Rules.]
(b) Effective Date of Amendments.
(c) Effective Date of Amendments.
(d) Effective Date of Amendments.
(e) Effective Date of Amendments.
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Enviado por: | El remitente no desea revelar su nombre |
Idioma: | inglés |
País: | Estados Unidos |