United States Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit
United States Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit
Local Rules & Internal Operating Procedures
October 1, 2015

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FOURTH CIRCUIT LOCAL RULES and INTERNAL OPERATING PROCEDURES
 
 
Appeal as of Right - How Taken
Loc. R. 3(a). Filing and Docket Fees 1
Loc. R. 3(b). Docketing Statement 1
I.O.P.-3.1. Transmission of District Court Order 1
Appeal by Permission
Loc. R. 5. Interlocutory Orders 1
 
Appeal in a Bankruptcy Case from a Final Judgment, Order, or Decree
of a District Court or Bankruptcy Appellate Panel
Loc. R. 6(a). Bankruptcy Records 1
I.O.P.-6.1. Bankruptcy Appeals 2
 
Stay or Injunction Pending Appeal
Loc. R. 8. Stay or Injunction Pending Appeal 2
 
Release in a Criminal Case
Loc. R. 9(a). Release Prior to Judgment of Conviction 2
Loc. R. 9(b). Release After Conviction and Notice of Appeal 2
Loc. R. 9(c). Recalcitrant Witnesses 2
 
The Record on Appeal
Loc. R. 10(a). Retention of the Record on Appeal in the District Court 3
Loc. R. 10(b). Records on Appeal 3
Loc. R. 10(c). Transcripts 3
Loc. R. 10(d) Supplemental Records, Modification, or Correction 4
 
Forwarding the Record
Loc. R. 11(a). Transcript Acknowledgments 4
Loc. R. 11(b). Time Limits for Filing Transcripts 4
Loc. R. 11(c). Exhibits 4
Loc. R. 11(d). Access of Counsel to Original Record 5
I.O.P.-11.1. Sanctions for Court Reporter's Failure to File a Timely Transcript 5
Docketing the Appeal; Filing a Representation Statement; Filing the Record
Loc. R. 12(a). Appeals by Aggrieved Non-parties in the Lower Court 5
Loc. R. 12(b). Joint Appeals/Cross-appeals and Consolidations 5
Loc. R. 12(c). Expedition of Appeals 5
Loc. R. 12(d). Abeyance 5
Loc. R. 12(e). Intervention 6
 
Review or Enforcement of an Agency Order - How Obtained; Intervention
Loc. R. 15(a). Docketing Fee 6
Loc. R. 15(b). Petitions for Review 6
 
Stay Pending Review
Loc. R. 18. Procedures 6
 
Writs of Mandamus and Prohibition, and Other Extraordinary Writs
Loc. R. 21(a). Case Captions for Extraordinary Writs 6
Loc. R. 21(b). Petitions for Mandamus or Prohibition 6
Loc. R. 21(c). Fees and Costs for Prisoner Petitions for Mandamus, Prohibition,
or other Extraordinary Relief 7
Loc. R. 21(d). Petitions for Writ of Mandamus Pursuant to 18 U.S.C. § 3771,
Crime Victims’ Rights 8
 
Habeas Corpus and Section 2255 Proceedings
Loc. R. 22(a). Certificates of Appealability 8
Loc. R. 22(b). Death Penalty Cases and Motions for Stay of Execution 10
Loc. R. 22(c). Petitions for Rehearing in Death Penalty Cases 11
Loc. R. 22(d). Motions for Authorization 11
I.O.P.-22.1. Death Penalty Cases 12
Proceeding in Forma Pauperis
Loc. R. 24. Prisoner Appeals 12
 
Filing and Service
Loc. R. 25(a). Electronic Case Filing System 13
Loc. R. 25(b). Use of Facsimile Equipment, Service, Certificate of Service 16
Loc. R. 25(c). Confidential and Sealed Materials 17
 
Computing and Extending Time
Loc. R. 26. State Holidays and Inclement Weather 19
 
Corporate Disclosure Statement
Loc. R. 26.1. Disclosure of Corporate Affiliations and Other Entities
with a Direct Financial Interest in Litigation 19
 
Motions
Loc. R. 27(a). Content of Motions; Notification and Consent 20
Loc. R. 27(b). Procedural Orders Acted on by Clerk; Reconsideration Thereof 20
Loc. R. 27(c). Form of Motions 20
Loc. R. 27(d). Responses; Replies 21
Loc. R. 27(e). Panel Assignments and Emergency Motions 21
Loc. R. 27(f). Motions for Summary Disposition 21
Briefs
Loc. R. 28(a). Consolidated Cases and Briefs 22
Loc. R. 28(b). Addenda and Attachments to Briefs 22
Loc. R. 28(c). Responsibilities of Counsel Listed on a Brief 22
Loc. R. 28(d). Joint Appeals and Consolidations 22
Loc. R. 28(e). Citation of Additional Authorities 22
Loc. R. 28(f). Statement of Case 22
Appendix to the Briefs
Loc. R. 30(a). Attorney Sanctions for Unnecessary Appendix Designations 23
Loc. R. 30(b). Appendix Contents; Number of Copies 23
Loc. R. 30(c). Responsibility of Parties 24
Loc. R. 30(d). Dispensing with Appendix 24
 
Serving and Filing Briefs
Loc. R. 31(a). Shortened Time for Service and Filing of Briefs in Criminal
Cases 24
Loc. R. 31(b). Briefing Orders 25
Loc. R. 31(c). Filing and Service 25
Loc. R. 31(d). Number of Copies 25
 
Form of Briefs, Appendices, and Other Papers
Loc. R. 32(a). Reproduction of Appendices 25
Loc. R. 32(b). Length of Briefs 25
Loc. R. 32(c). Correction of Briefs and Appendices 25
 
Citing Judicial Dispositions
Loc. R. 32.1 Citing of Unpublished Opinions 26
 
Appeal Conferences
Loc. R. 33. Circuit Mediation Conferences 26
 
Oral Argument
Loc. R. 34(a). Oral Argument; Pre-argument Review and Summary Disposition
of Appeals; Statement Regarding the Need for Oral Argument 27
Loc. R. 34(b). Informal Briefs 27
Loc. R. 34(c). Court Sessions and Notification to Counsel 28
Loc. R. 34(d). Argument Time 28
Loc. R. 34(e). Motion to Submit on Briefs 28
I.O.P.-34.1. Calendar Assignments and Panel Composition 29
I.O.P.-34.2. Disposition Without Oral Argument 29
I.O.P.-34.3 Audio Files of Oral Argument 29
 
En Banc Determination
Loc. R. 35. En Banc Proceedings 30
Entry of Judgment; Notice
Loc. R. 36(a). Publication of Decisions 31
Loc. R. 36(b). Unpublished Dispositions; Opinion Distribution 31
I.O.P.-36.1. Opinion Preparation Assignments 31
I.O.P.-36.2 Circulation of Opinions in Argued Cases 31
I.O.P.-36.3. Summary Opinions 32
Costs
Loc. R. 39(a). Reproduction Costs 32
Loc. R. 39(b). Bill of Costs 32
Loc. R. 39(c). Recovery of Costs in the District Court 32
 
Petition for Panel Rehearing
Loc. R. 40(a). Filing of Petition 33
Loc. R. 40(b). Statement of Purpose 33
Loc. R. 40(c). Time Limits for Filing Petitions 33
Loc. R. 40(d). Papers Filed After Denial of a Petition for Rehearing 33
I.O.P.-40.1. Submission of Petitions for Rehearing to the Court 33
I.O.P.-40.2. Panel Rehearing 34
 
Mandate: Contents; Issuance and Effective Date; Stay
Loc. R. 41. Motion for Stay of the Mandate 34
I.O.P.-41.1. Issuance of the Mandate 34
I.O.P.-41.2. Petitions for Writs of Certiorari 34
 
Voluntary Dismissal
Loc. R. 42. Voluntary Dismissals 35
 
Clerk’s Duties
Loc. R. 45. Dismissals for Failure to Prosecute 35
I.O.P.-45.1. Clerk's Office 35
I.O.P.-45.2. Public Information 35
 
Attorneys
Loc. R. 46(a). Legal Assistance to Indigents by Law Students 36
Loc. R. 46(b). Admission to Practice 36
Loc. R. 46(c). Appearance of Counsel; Withdrawal; Substitutions 37
Loc. R. 46(d). Appointment of Counsel 37
Loc. R. 46(e). Attorney's Fees and Expenses 38
Loc. R. 46(f). Proceeding Pro Se 38
Loc. R. 46(g). Rules of Disciplinary Enforcement 38
 
Local Rules by Courts of Appeals
Loc. R. 47(a). Procedures for Adoption of Local Rules and Internal Operating
Procedures 40
Loc. R. 47(b). Advisory Committee on Rules and Procedures 41
I.O.P.-47.1. Judicial Conference 41
I.O.P.-47.2. Membership in the Judicial Conference of the Circuit 41