Federal Circuit Rules of Practice (December 1, 2023) Page xii
FOREWORD
This document contains the rules for proceedings in the United States
Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit. These rules include the
Federal Rules of Appellate Procedure and the corresponding Federal
Circuit Rules. The Federal Rules of Appellate Procedure appear on a
shaded blue background for ease in distinguishing them from the
Federal Circuit Rules that are on a white background. Certain
provisions within the Federal Rules of Appellate Procedure are
inapplicable to this court or have been modified by the Federal Circuit
Rule; where appropriate, informational cross-references and
annotations to the relevant Federal Circuit Rule have been added as
footnotes to the Federal Rules of Appellate Procedure. Parties should
review both the Federal Rule and the Federal Circuit Rule for each rule
to determine whether a Federal Circuit Rule provides for additional
requirements or limitations than what is stated in the Federal Rule of
Appellate Procedure. Inapplicable provisions of the Federal Rules of
Appellate Procedure are noted as [OMITTED].
Practice Notes following the various rules are in boxed informational
sections. These Practice Notes discuss matters that are often asked of
the Clerk’s Office staff or provide additional explanatory information
concerning the related rule. Parties may rely on the Practice Notes to
assist in applying the Federal Rules and the Federal Circuit Rules, but
they may not be used to avoid controlling statutes or rules.
The Federal Circuit Attorney Discipline Rules are included in this
document. Other documents are available on the court’s website at
https://www.cafc.uscourts.gov/, including the Internal Operating
Procedures, Electronic Filing Procedures, Guide for Unrepresented
Parties, Appellate Mediation Program Guidelines, Guide for Oral
Argument, and Federal Circuit Forms.
Inquiries about the Rules of Practice may be made to the Clerk’s Office
at 202-275-8000. Public access, email and telephone hours for the
Clerk’s Office are 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. (Eastern), Monday through
Friday. Please refer to the court’s website for additional contact
information for the Clerk’s Office and various filing resources, argument
resources, electronic filing resources, and unrepresented filer resources
developed by the Clerk’s Office that may be of assistance to you.
Comments on the Rules of Practice are welcome at any time. Please
send comments to FederalCircuitRules@cafc.uscourts.gov or Clerk of
Court, United States Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit, 717
Madison Place, NW, Washington, DC 20439.