Notices & Announcements

Notice of New Federal Circuit Rules, Court Forms, Guide, and Fee Schedule

The December 1, 2024 amendments to the Federal Circuit Rules go into effect today.  The final version of the Federal Circuit Rules (pdf) is available on the court’s website and will apply to all cases filed or pending on or after December 1, 2024, to the extent practicable.  The court has also adopted changes to Form 33. This form should be used, as required, for any filings made on or after December 1, 2024.  All updated and existing forms are located on the court’s website.

As part of the implementation of these amendments, the Clerk’s Office has issued updates to the Guide for Unrepresented Parties (pdf), Internal Operating Procedures (pdf), and the Petitions for Rehearing and Petitions for Hearing and Rehearing En Banc Information Sheet (pdf).

[Updated December 4, 2024 to reflect updates to the Internal Operating Procedures]

Nationwide Notices of Docket Activity Scam

Please be advised there has been nationwide reporting of fake CM/ECF Notices of Electronic Filing (NEFs) and Notices of Docket Activity (NDAs) being sent to attorneys and law firms.  These fake NEFs/NDAs are phishing attempts designed to trick recipients into replying to the email and directing them to a malicious website.  Users should validate cases and case documentation only through CM/ECF, and never download any attachments or click any links from unofficial or questionable sources.  If you have any questions concerning the authenticity of any communications that claim to be from this court, please contact us at 202-275-8000.

Notice of Adopted Amendments to the Federal Circuit Rules of Practice

Pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 2071(b) and Federal Circuit Rule 47(a), the United States Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit has adopted amendments to Federal Circuit Rules of Practice 21, 27, 30, 32, 35, and 40; Practice Notes to Rules 15, 28, 30, 35 and 40; and Federal Circuit Attorney Discipline Rules Introduction and Rule 5. The court received and reviewed public comments on the proposed amendments, and the court has ordered the adoption of the proposed amendments, as amended, effective December 1, 2024.

The court’s website contains the court’s order adopting these amendments, a draft proof copy of the Federal Circuit Rules of Practice, and a summary of the adopted amendments.

The final version of the Federal Circuit Rules of Practice incorporating these amendments will be available on the court’s website by December 1, 2024.  As part of the implementation of these amendments, the Clerk’s Office will be providing additional information and updates to materials on the court’s website, including court forms, by December 1, 2024.

The full notice is available on the court’s website.

Federal Circuit Schedules February 2025 Session for Central North Carolina

The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit is pleased to announce that it intends to sit in and around Central North Carolina as part of its February 2025 session.  The Federal Circuit will concurrently hold its regular session in Washington, D.C.  Counsel scheduled for the February 2025 session in either location will be notified by the Clerk’s Office later this year. The full notice is available here (pdf).

Court Access Beginning October 28, 2024

Beginning Monday, October 28, 2024, security fencing will be installed around the National Courts Building and surrounding area. Access to the courthouse will only be available on H Street, N.W.

Please allow for additional time to pass through perimeter screening, in addition to the standard public entrance screening. 

IP-Focused American Inn of Court named after Judge Kara F. Stoll

On Thursday, September 26, the Kara Farnandez Stoll American Inn of Court held a naming ceremony and its first inaugural meeting in Charlotte, North Carolina at the Charles R. Jonas United States Courthouse. Approximately 60 members of the Inn attended the ceremony to honor Judge Stoll, including attorneys from law firms and local companies, as well as professors and law students from across the state.

Chief Judge Kimberly Moore, Judge Sharon Prost, and Judge Tiffany Cunningham of the Federal Circuit were also in attendance to present the official charter of the Kara Farnandez Stoll American Inn of Court to Judge Stoll. The Inn is a member of the Linn Inn Alliance.

From left to right: Judge Tiffany P. Cunningham, Judge Kara F. Stoll, Judge Sharon Prost, and Judge Kimberly Moore, Chief Judge of the Federal Circuit

Limited CM/ECF Availability on Saturday, October 19, 2024 through Sunday, October 20, 2024

Due to an extended maintenance window for the court’s electronic filing system (CM/ECF), the CM/ECF system will be unavailable from Saturday, October 19, 2024, at 8:00 a.m. (Eastern) through Sunday, October 20, 2024, at 6:00 p.m. (Eastern). While the system may be available for intermittent accessing of documents, filers should not attempt to file any new documents with the court during this maintenance window.

Appointment of Advisory Council Members

Chief Judge Kimberly A. Moore has appointed the following members to the Advisory Council for the United States Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit: Jeremiah Helm and Patrick Keane as new members, and Mel Bostwick and Goutam Patnaik as reappointed members. These appointments are for terms of three years and are effective October 1, 2024. The full announcement is available on the court’s website (pdf).