United States Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit
United States Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit
Local Rules & Internal Operating Procedures
December 1, 2023

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MOTIONS

MOTIONS
 
Local Rule 27(a). Content of Motions; Notification and Consent.
In cases where all parties are represented by counsel, all motions shall contain a statement by counsel that counsel for the other parties to the appeal have been informed of the intended filing of the motion. The statement shall indicate whether the other parties consent to the granting of the motion, or intend to file responses in opposition.
Local Rule 27(b). Procedural Orders Acted on by Clerk; Reconsideration Thereof.
Motions and applications for orders if consented to, or if unopposed after due notice to all interested parties has been given or waived, or if the orders sought are procedural or relate to the preparation or printing of the appendix and briefs on appeal, or are such as are ordinarily granted as of course and without notice or hearing, need not be submitted to the Court, or to a judge thereof. Such orders may be entered for the Court by the clerk, who shall forthwith send copies thereof to the parties.
Any party adversely affected by an order entered by the clerk pursuant to this rule shall be entitled to request reconsideration of the clerk's action by the Court, if within 14 days after entry of the order, such party shall file with the clerk and serve upon the parties to the proceedings a request, in writing, for reconsideration, vacation or modification of the order, stating the grounds for such request. The clerk shall thereupon submit to the Court the request for reconsideration, vacation or modification, the motion or application upon which the order was entered, and any responses by other parties which may have been filed in support or opposition to the request. The Court may thereafter take such action as may be proper.
Local Rule 27(c). Form of Motions.
A Disclosure of Corporate Affiliations statement must accompany the motion unless previously filed with the Court. See FRAP 26.1 and Local Rule 26.1. Counsel should always review carefully the specific rule which authorizes relief to ascertain the requirements, and any motion should contain or be accompanied by any supporting documents required by a specific rule. If a motion is supported by attachments, these materials should also be served and filed with the motion. The parties should not make requests for procedural and substantive relief in a single motion, but should make each request in a separate motion.
 
Local Rule 27(d). Responses; Replies.
(1) Responses. Although any party may file a response to a motion, a party need not respond to a motion until requested to do so by the Court. The three-day mailing period permitted by FRAP 26(c) does not apply to responses requested by the Court or clerk by letter wherein a response date is set forth in the request. A Disclosure of Corporate Affiliations statement must accompany any response to a motion unless previously filed with the Court. See FRAP 26.1 and Local Rule 26. If the Court acts upon a motion without a response, any party adversely affected by such action may by application to the Court request reconsideration, vacation or modification of the Court's action.
(2) Replies. The Court will not ordinarily await the filing of a reply before reviewing a motion and response. If movant intends to file a reply and does not want the Court to actively consider the motion and response until a reply is filed, movant shall notify the clerk in writing of the intended filing of the reply and request that this Court not act on the motion until the reply is received.
Local Rule 27(e). Panel Assignments and Emergency Motions.
There is a strong presumption that the Court will act, in all but routine procedural matters, through panels or en banc, as prescribed by 28 U.S.C. § 46(c). Ordinarily, counsel shall present all motions to the clerk for presentation to the Court. Application to a single judge should be made only in exceptional circumstances where action by a panel would be impractical due to the requirements of time. In such exceptional circumstances, counsel shall attempt to notify the clerk’s office that application is being made directly to a single judge, and copies of all papers presented to the judge shall be presented to the clerk as soon as practical for filing.
When a single judge determines to act, the matter will be referred to a panel as early in the process as is practical. As soon as a matter has been assigned to a panel, any action in the matter will be decided by the panel.
The selection of motion panels is similar to the process set forth in I.O.P. 34.1 for hearing panels. In a case where a request for single judge action is made to the clerk and action by a panel is not feasible, the clerk will assign the matter to a judge selected at random. In cases where a single judge, selected at random, has found it necessary to act, the clerk will fill out the panel with the at-random selection of two additional judges. In cases in which a single judge, selected by counsel, has found it necessary to act, the clerk will assign the matter to a three-judge panel selected at random, which may or may not include the single judge who acted in the case.
Local Rule 27(f). Motions for Summary Disposition.
(1) Motions for Summary Affirmance or Reversal. Motions for summary affirmance or reversal filed prior to completion of briefing should include a showing that the issues raised on appeal are in fact manifestly unsubstantial and appropriate for disposition by motion. Absent such a showing, the Court will defer action on the motion until briefing is complete.
(2). Motion to Dismiss. Motions to dismiss based upon the ground that the appeal is not within the jurisdiction of the Court or on other procedural grounds should be filed within the time allowed for the filing of the response brief. The Court may also sua sponte summarily dispose of any appeal at any time.
(3) Suspension of Briefing. Suspension of briefing pending ruling on a motion to summarily affirm, reverse, or dismiss should be requested by separate motion.