Notices & Announcements

Notice of Court closure on November 27, 2020

The United States Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit will be closed on Friday, November 27, 2020, in addition to the federal holiday of Thursday, November 26, 2020.  For purposes of computation of time and motions to enlarge time under Federal Rule of Appellate Procedure 26 and Federal Circuit Rule 26, November 27, 2020, will be considered a “legal holiday.”  The full order is available on the court’s website (pdf).

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 November 22, 2020; 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 (pdf) is available on the court’s website.

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 November 22, 2020, 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 Updated Electronic Filing Procedures and Materials for Unrepresented Parties

Effective today, electronic filing for unrepresented parties is available.  Additionally, the Clerk’s Office has implemented several modifications to its procedures, including the resumption of public assistance by telephone.  Details of these changes were announced on September 24, 2020, and are outlined in the Notice of Modification to Clerk’s Office Procedures (PDF) and the Notice of Implementation of Electronic Filing for Unrepresented Parties (pdf). 

Updated versions of the Electronic Filing Procedures (pdf) and Guide for Unrepresented Parties (pdf), as well as additional content are now available throughout the court’s website.

Unrepresented parties interested in electronic filing must first (1) register for a Non-Attorney Electronic Filing (pdf) and (2) submit an updated Form 8B (pdf) to the Clerk’s Office before they will have the ability to file electronically.

Notice of Upcoming Modifications to Clerk’s Office Procedures

Effective October 1, 2020, the Clerk’s Office will be implementing several modifications to office procedures including finalizing electronic filing access for unrepresented parties and resuming public assistance by telephone.  Details of these changes are outlined in the Notice of Modification to Clerk’s Office Procedures (Sept. 24, 2020) (pdf) and the Notice of Implementation of Electronic Filing for Unrepresented Parties (Sept 24, 2020) (pdf) available on the court’s website.

Notice of 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 orders 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, 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 (pdf) is available on the court’s website.

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 until October 19, 2020, 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.

Clerk’s Office Operating Status for August 28, 2020

The Clerk’s Office will be inaccessible for submitting paper filings, mail and courier deliveries, and night box submissions on Friday, August 28, 2020.  Paper filings and submissions due on Friday, August 28, 2020, will be deemed as timely filed if received on Monday, August 31, 2020.  Electronic case filing will remain available through CM/ECF and electronic filing deadlines remain in effect.  

Notice of 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 joint order extending their prior administrative orders 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, 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 (pdf) is available on the court’s website.

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 until September 14, 2020, 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 New Federal Circuit Rules, Court Forms and Guides, Taxation of Cost Rates, and Scheduled Electronic Filing for Unrepresented Parties

The July 1, 2020 amendments to the Federal Circuit Rules go into effect today.  The final version of the Federal Circuit Rules (July 1, 2020) (pdf) is available on the court’s website and will apply to all cases filed or pending on or after July 1, 2020, to the extent practicable.  The court has also adopted changes to many of its official forms, which should be used, as required, for any filings made on or after July 1, 2020.  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 updated versions of the Electronic Filing Procedures (pdf), Guide for Oral Argument (pdf), Guide for Unrepresented Parties (pdf) (formerly “Guide for Pro Se Appellants and Petitioners”), and additional content throughout the court’s website.  

Based on new provisions in the Rules, the Clerk of Court has also issued two notices.  The first notice (pdf) sets the maximum rate of taxation of costs pursuant to Fed. Cir. R. 39(c); these rates are unchanged from those in effect before July 1, 2020, and update the available taxation items based on the current paper brief copy requirements under the Rules.  The second notice (pdf) provides that electronic filing for unrepresented parties will be available beginning October 1, 2020; in the interim, the Clerk’s Office will continue to provide modified electronic filing and service procedures consistent with Administrative Order 20-01 (March 20, 2020).