Notices & Announcements

New Oral Argument Scheduling Conflicts Guidance

The Clerk’s Office is providing guidance to clarify the criteria for allowable and unallowable counsel scheduling conflicts with upcoming oral argument sessions.  The provided list is neither dispositive nor exhaustive, and the Clerk’s Office reviews each submission in its entirety. However, this guidance applies to most conflicts received, and it aims to provide helpful information regarding acceptable scheduling conflicts.

The Clerk’s Office reviews identified conflicts to determine whether they are allowable for good cause, or unallowable for lack of good cause.  The key requirements for “good cause” are (1) certainty, meaning the conflict is already scheduled rather than suspected or in planning stages,  (2) specificity, meaning the Clerk’s Office will not accept generalized conflicts with no elaboration, and (3) strong basis, meaning that the conflict is one that provides a strong reason for being unable to attend oral argument and that the conflict cannot be easily resolved or rescheduled.

For detailed questions about the scheduling conflict review process or rejected conflict dates, please contact the Clerk’s Office at 202-275-8035 during normal business operating hours.

The full guidance is available on the court’s website (pdf).

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

The December 1, 2023 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, 2023, to the extent practicable.  The court has also adopted changes to Form 6a and Form 24. These forms should be used, as required, for any filings made on or after December 1, 2023.  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 the Guide for Unrepresented Parties (pdf) and the Records Request Form (pdf).

Pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 1914(b), the Judicial Conference of the United States has approved increases to various miscellaneous court fees, and the Federal Circuit has approved additional increases to its local fees, effective December 1, 2023. The updated fee schedule is available on our website.

Federal Circuit Announces New Learning Center for Local Public Schools

At this past Friday’s Federal Circuit Bar Association’s 2023 Annual Dinner & Reception, Federal Circuit Chief Judge Kimberly A. Moore announced plans for the creation of a learning center, designed to serve and educate local public school students at the court. With a planned opening in September 2024, the Federal Circuit will unveil a new, state-of-the-art learning center in the heart of Washington, D.C. with a primary focus on providing a unique learning opportunity to students in the local community. Students will be able to tour the combined 2,400 square-feet of historic spaces and engage in interactive educational programming focused on the intersection between law and technology, which is one of the Federal Circuit’s many specialties.

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

Notice of Fee Schedule Change

Pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 1914(b), the Judicial Conference of the United States has approved the below inflationary increases to various miscellaneous court fees, and the Federal Circuit has approved additional increases to its local fees, effective December 1, 2023. An updated fee schedule will be available on our website as of that date.

Attorney FeesOld AmountNew Amount
Attorney admission fee$238.00 (including a $50.00 local court fee)$300.00 (including a $101.00 local court fee)
Certificate of good standing$20.00$21.00
Duplicate certificate of admission$30.00 (including a $10.00 local court fee)$50.00 (including a $29.00 local court fee)
Filing FeesOld AmountNew Amount
Docketing fee for petition for review and petition for mandamus$500.00$600.00
Docketing and filing fee for appeal from a district court$505.00$605.00
Docketing appeal from U.S. Court of Appeals for Veterans Claims$500.00$600.00
Copy and Records FeesOld AmountNew Amount
Search of court records$32.00$34.00
Certification of any document or paper$11.00$12.00
Issuance of apostille$47.00$50.00
Reproduction of oral argument recordings$32.00$34.00
Reproduction of electronic record not stored in CM/ECF or available on PACER$32.00$33.00
Reproduction of the record in any appeal in which no appendix is required$89.00$94.00
Box retrieval of court records from FRC$64.00 (first box)
$39.00 (each additional box)
$70.00 (first box)
$43.00 (each additional box)

Chief Judge Moore to Announce New Court Initiative at the Federal Circuit Bar Association 2023 Annual Dinner & Reception

The Federal Circuit Bar Association (FCBA) has announced its upcoming 2023 Annual Dinner & Reception, which will honor the judges of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit. Scheduled for Friday, November 17, 2023, from 6:30 p.m. to 9:30 p.m., at the historic Mayflower Hotel in Washington, DC. Chief Judge Kimberly Moore will serve as the Keynote Speaker, where she will announce a forthcoming new initiative at the court.

This event will be a gathering of members of the Federal Circuit community, as well as the recent FCBA law school scholarship winners. 

For more information on this event, visit www.fedcirbar.org. All inquires concerning the event should contact Karla Smith-Lucas at smith-lucas@fedcirbar.org, or at 202-780-4450. All media and press inquiries concerning the Federal Circuit should contact Patrick Chesnut at Publicinformation@cafc.uscourts.gov, or at 202-275-8040.

Notice Regarding Operations During Possible Lapse in Federal Appropriations

In the event of a lapse in federal appropriations on Sunday, October 1, 2023, the United States Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit will remain open for business and will be fully staffed to provide all judicial business functions until further notice from the court. Arguments scheduled for the week of October 2, 2023, will proceed as scheduled.

Electronic case filing will remain available through CM/ECF and electronic filing deadlines will remain in effect. 

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

Release of Materials in Judicial Investigation

Pursuant to Judge Newman’s request under Rule 23(b)(7) and pursuant to Rule 23(b)(8), the materials below are being released. 

Prior documents in this matter can be found on the court’s website. Neither the Judicial Council, Special Committee, nor the court are providing any additional statements at this time.