Notices & Announcements

Clerk’s Office Operating Status for January 21, 2021

Due to conditions in the vicinity of the National Courts Building in Washington, D.C. that are impacting pedestrian and vehicular access for in-person, courier, or third-party commercial carriers, the Clerk’s Office will be inaccessible for purposes of receiving paper filings, mail and courier deliveries, and night box submissions on Thursday, January 21, 2021.

For purposes of Federal Circuit Rule 26(a)(3), the deadlines for nonelectronic filings and submissions due on January 21 will be deemed as timely filed if received on Friday, January 22, 2021.  Electronic filing access and deadlines, as well as any scheduled hearings, are unaffected.

Consistent with the prior Order Modifying Procedures for Nonelectronic Filing (pdf) (Nov. 2, 2020), the night drop box on H Street, NW will not be accessible during this period.

Notice of Continued Extension of Access Restrictions for the National Courts Building

The United States Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit and the United States Court of Federal Claims have entered a new joint order extending their prior administrative order of June 26, 2020, concerning access to the National Courts Building complex in Washington, D.C.  Effective immediately, building access will continue to remain limited to court staff through February 28, 2021; however, requests for access will still be handled on a case-by-case basis when submitted in writing at least 24 hours ahead of time.  The full administrative order is available on the court’s website (pdf).

Requests for access relating to Federal Circuit business or spaces within the National Courts Building may be submitted in writing to the Circuit Executive’s Office at FSO_helpdesk@cafc.uscourts.gov.  These restrictions will remain in effect through February 28, 2021, unless modified sooner. 

To review ongoing updates and information about the Federal Circuit’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic, please go to the court’s COVID-19 information page.

Notice of Designation of Court Access Coordinators and Update to the Guide for Oral Argument

The Clerk’s Office has updated the Federal Circuit’s Guide for Oral Argument, which can be found under Argument Resources (pdf).  The updated Guide includes minor procedural clarifications and designates new Access Coordinators, pursuant to The Guide for Judiciary Policy, vol. 5 § 255.40 (pdf).  The Access Coordinators are responsible for coordinating auxiliary aids and services to participants in proceedings who have communication disabilities.  The full designation notice and information about accessibility accommodations during court sessions is available on the court’s website (pdf).

Adoption of Procedures for the Filing, Service, and Management of Highly Sensitive Documents

In response to recent disclosures of widespread breaches of both private sector and government computer systems, the United States Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit has adopted new procedures for the handling of highly sensitive documents outside of the court’s electronic case filing system (CM/ECF) as well as for documents already electronically filed in CM/ECF.  The administrative order and new procedures go into effect immediately and are available on the court’s website (pdf). 

The Clerk’s Office has also finalized updates to the court’s Electronic Filing Procedures, which are available on the court’s website (pdf).  Please direct any questions to the Clerk’s Office at 202-275-8000.

Notice of Modified Procedures for Non-Electronic Filing and Submissions

Due to conditions in the vicinity of the National Courts Building in Washington, D.C. that are impacting pedestrian and vehicular access for in-person, courier, or third-party commercial carriers, the Clerk’s Office will be inaccessible for purposes of receiving paper filings, mail and courier deliveries, and night box submissions from 12:01 p.m. (Eastern) on Wednesday, January 13, 2021, through Wednesday, January 20, 2021. 

For purposes of Federal Circuit Rule 26(a)(3), the deadlines for nonelectronic filings and submissions due on January 13 through January 20 will be deemed as timely filed if received on Thursday, January 21, 2021.  Electronic filing access and deadlines, as well as any scheduled hearings, are unaffected for January 13, 14, 15, and 19.  

Consistent with the prior Order Modifying Procedures for Nonelectronic Filing (pdf) (Nov. 2, 2020), the night drop box on H Street, NW will not be accessible during this period.

Court Operating Status for the Week of January 18, 2021

The United States Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit will be closed on Monday, January 18, 2021, in observance of Martin Luther King Jr.’s Birthday, pursuant to Federal Rule of Appellate Procedure 26(a)(6), and on Wednesday, January 20, 2021, in observance of Inauguration Day, pursuant to 5 U.S.C. 6103(c).  For purposes of computation of time and motions to enlarge time under Rule 26 of the Federal Rules of Appellate Procedure and Federal Circuit Rules, January 20, 2021, will be considered a “legal holiday.” The full order is available on the court’s website (pdf).

All electronic filing deadlines for Monday, January 18 are now due on Tuesday, January 19, and all electronic filing deadlines for Wednesday, January 20 are now due on Thursday, January 21.  Electronic filing deadlines for Tuesday, January 19 remain unchanged.  The court hearing scheduled for January 19, 2021, will proceed as scheduled.

The Clerk’s Office will also be inaccessible for purposes of receiving paper filings, mail and courier deliveries, and night box submissions on January 19, 2021.  See Federal Circuit Rule 26(a)(3).  Deadlines for nonelectronic filings and submissions due on either January 18, 19, or 20 will be deemed as timely filed if received on Thursday, January 21, 2021.

Notice of Court Closure on December 24, 2020

The United States Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit will be closed on Thursday, December 24, 2020, in addition to the federal holiday of Friday, December 25, 2020.  For purposes of computation of time and motions to enlarge time under Federal Rule of Appellate Procedure 26 and Federal Circuit Rule 26, December 24, 2020, will be considered a “legal holiday.”  The full order is available on the court’s website (pdf).

Notice of Emergency Amendment to Federal Circuit Rule 15(F)

Pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 2071(e) and Federal Circuit Rule 47(b), the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit has issued an emergency amendment to Federal Circuit Rule 15(f). The amended rule goes into effect immediately on an interim basis and will become final on January 31, 2021, absent additional action by the court.  Public comments to the Clerk of Court are due on or before January 8, 2021.  The full notice and order are available on the court’s website (pdf).