Registration FAQ

United States Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit

REGISTRATION ON ELECTRONIC CASE FILING

The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit is adopting the CM/ECF (Case Management/Electronic Case Files) system which will permit electronic filing in cases. The system is currently under development at the court and is not available for use at this time. Information about the date that electronic case files (ECF) will be available to filers and the rules and guidelines for its use will be issued at a later date. For the most current information on the implementation of CM/ECF at the Federal Circuit, visit the court’s website at www.cafc.uscourts.gov.

To be eligible for ECF when it becomes available at the Federal Circuit, filers must have established the necessary accounts through the Pacer Service Center. Both a Pacer account and an ECF account are required. For more information on obtaining the required accounts, please visit the Pacer Service Center at www.pacer.gov.

Who may register for ECF at the Federal Circuit?

Only members of the Federal Circuit bar and attorneys of the federal, state, and local governments may register as ECF filers at the Federal Circuit.

Individuals who are not attorneys, including those representing themselves in cases pro se, may not register as ECF filers at the Federal Circuit.

Non-attorneys may register for CM/ECF as "not a public filer" which enables the individual to receive electronic notification in specific cases. Refer to www.pacer.gov for more information on how to register as a non-filer and the options available to view CM/ECF case information as a non-filer.

When can I register for ECF at the Federal Circuit?

Filers may register on or after the date announced by the court. See the Federal Circuit’s website for the latest information on the opening date for registration: www.cafc.uscourts.gov. Attorney filers are encouraged to register early for ECF. Filers who are not properly registered in advance will not be able to use ECF for case filing when it becomes available.

Where do I go to register for ECF at the Federal Circuit?

Registration is through the Pacer Service Center at www.pacer.gov. This link is also available on the Federal Circuit’s website.

I am already registered for ECF at another appellate court. What do I need to do to use ECF at the Federal Circuit?

Use your appellate ECF login and password to access your registration information at https://www.pacer.gov/psco/cgi-bin/cmecf/ea-login.pl. After logging in, select "Register for Additional Court(s)" under "miscellaneous" in the lower right portion of the screen. Select the Federal Circuit and resubmit your registration information.

I cannot remember my existing Pacer account information.

You must contact the Pacer Service Center, not the court, regarding Pacer and CM/ECF login and password information. www.pacer.gov

I’m not admitted to the Federal Circuit bar.

All attorneys other than government attorneys must be active bar members at the Federal Circuit before the court can approve the attorney’s ECF filer request. The court’s bar application and instructions are available at http://www.cafc.uscourts.gov/images/stories/rules-of-practice/forms/form21.pdf.

Attorneys should also refer to Federal Circuit Rule 46. Bar applications must be sent in original paper form directly to the court; they may not be submitted electronically. Questions about the bar application process may be directed to the Clerk’s Office at 202-275-8000.

A non-attorney may not register as an ECF filer at the Federal Circuit but may register as "not a public filer". Contact the Pacer Service Center for additional information on how to register as a non-filer. www.pacer.gov.

When will I be able to use ECF at the Federal Circuit?

Please visit the court’s website at www.cafc.uscourts.gov for the latest information regarding the implementation of ECF and filing rules and requirements. Filer registration for ECF is not a substitute for entering an appearance in a case. All counsel must individually enter their appearance in cases in which they wish to represent parties, pursuant to Federal Circuit Rule 47.3.

Where can I get information about the court’s ECF filing requirements and rules?

When rules and requirements become available, they will be posted on the court’s website at www.cafc.uscourts.gov.

I need more help or have more questions about filer registration for ECF.

Please contact the Federal Circuit’s attorney registration help desk via email at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it   or by phone 202-275-8040, Monday-Friday, 9:00 am-5:00 pm Eastern Time, or the Pacer Service Center at www.pacer.gov.