Notices & Announcements

Notice of Modifications to Court Operations and New Protocols for In-Person Arguments

September 9, 2022

Effective September 12, 2022, the United States Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit will resume normal operations and reopen the National Courts Building to the public. Administrative Order 2022-04 and Administrative Order 2022-05 implementing these changes are available on the court’s website.

The court has also issued Revised Protocols for In-Person Arguments that will apply beginning with the October 2022 court sitting. The Revised Protocols are available on the court’s website.

Notice of Proposed Amendments to the Federal Circuit Rules of Practice

September 2, 2022

Pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 2071(b) and Federal Circuit Rule 47(a), the United States Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit gives notice that it proposes to amend Federal Circuit Rules of Practice 25, 27, 28, 28.1, 30, 31, 32, 33, 33.1, 34, 35, 40, 41, 47.4, and 47.5, and the Practice Notes to Rules 33.1, 38, and 47.7. The proposed amendments are available on the court’s website. If adopted, the amendments would take effect on December 1, 2022.

Public comments must be received by the Clerk of Court on or before October 3, 2022. Comments may be submitted by email or by mail to Proposed Rules Comments 2022, Clerk’s Office, U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit, 717 Madison Place, N.W., Washington, D.C. 20439.

Public Notice Vacating Show Cause Order Concerning Paper Case Records

August 23, 2022

Upon further consideration, the United States Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit has rescinded its August 17, 2022 show cause order due to administrative impracticality. Any impacted parties, counsel, and other interested parties are excused from any existing requirement to show cause pursuant to Federal Circuit Rule 25.1(a)(1). All previously-identified cases will be transferred in due course to the National Archives and Records Administration for permanent retention in their current state. Please refer to the new order for further details.

Notice of this order is being sent to all active members of the bar registered with the court’s electronic filing system as well as to original counsel of record in the identified cases. Questions concerning the new order should be directed by phone to the Federal Circuit Clerk’s Office at (202) 275-8035.

Public Notice of Show Cause Order to Unseal Certain Paper Case Records

August 17, 2022

The United States Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit intends to unseal certain paper case records in accordance with Federal Circuit Rule 25.1(a)(1) in order to accomplish accession to the National Archives and Records Administration. Parties, counsel, or other impacted individuals with an interest in keeping sealed records in any case identified in the court’s order must show cause no later than 60 days from the date of the order why those records must remain sealed. No response is needed unless parties or counsel intent to contest the unsealing. Please refer to the order for further details, including how to submit a response.

Notice of this order is being sent to all active members of the bar registered with the court’s electronic filing system as well as to original counsel of record in the identified cases. Questions concerning the order or the process for responding should be directed by phone to the Federal Circuit Clerk’s Office at (202) 275-8035.

Notice of Modification to the Internal Operating Procedures

July 22, 2022

Pursuant to Federal Circuit Rule 47(c), the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit has made a minor stylistic alteration to Internal Operating Procedure #14(2)(e), effective immediately. The updated version of the Internal Operating Procedures is available on the court’s website.

Operating Status for July 4, 2022

July 1, 2022

For Monday, July 4, 2022, the United States Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit is closed in observance of the federal holiday, pursuant to Federal Rule of Appellate Procedure 26(a)(6). Our offices will reopen on Tuesday, July 5, 2022.

Notice of Revised Protocols for In-Person Argument

June 21, 2022

The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit has issued new Revised Protocols for In-Person Arguments (pdf) effective immediately. These revisions increase the number of permitted attendees at argument to allow counsel to bring up to two attendees into the courthouse. All attendees must continue to comply with requirements for testing or medical documentation, masking, and limitations on access while in the courthouse.

Counsel scheduled for the July 2022 session will receive separate notification of these changes and need not file updated information with the court.

Notice of New Revised Protocols for In-Person Arguments

June 13, 2022

The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit has issued Revised Protocols for In-Person Arguments (pdf) that will apply to the July 2022 court sitting and subsequent sittings until further notice. These revisions clarify and expand the testing or medical documentation options available to counsel participating in arguments at the courthouse. Based on the Revised Protocols, the court has also updated the Certification of Compliance (Form 33A) (pdf) required to be filed ahead of time for all arguing counsel. These materials are available on the court’s website.

Counsel scheduled for the July 2022 session will receive separate notification of these changes and need not file updated information with the court.

United States Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit