United States Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit
United States Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit
Federal and Local Rules of Appellate Procedure
October 20, 2015

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FEDERAL RULES OF APPELLATE PROCEDURE
 
LOCAL RULES and INTERNAL
OPERATING PROCEDURES OF THE FOURTH CIRCUIT
 
CONTENTS
 
 
Rule 1. Scope of Rules and Title 1-1
 
Rule 2. Suspension of Rules 2-1
 
Rule 3. Appeal as of Right - How Taken 3-1
Loc. R. 3(a). Filing and Docket Fees
Loc. R. 3(b). Docketing Statement
I.O.P.-3.1. Transmission of District Court Order
 
Rule 4. Appeal as of Right - When Taken 4-1
 
Rule 5. Appeal by Permission 5-1
Loc. R. 5. Interlocutory Orders
 
Rule 6. Appeal in a Bankruptcy Case 6-1
Loc. R. 6(a). Bankruptcy Records
I.O.P.-6.1. Bankruptcy Appeals
 
Rule 7. Bond for Costs on Appeal in a Civil Case 7-1
 
Rule 8. Stay or Injunction Pending Appeal 8-1
Loc. R. 8. Stay or Injunction Pending Appeal
 
Rule 9. Release in a Criminal Case 9-1
Loc. R. 9(a). Release Prior to Judgment of Conviction
Loc. R. 9(b). Release After Conviction and Notice of Appeal
Loc. R. 9(c). Recalcitrant Witnesses
 
Rule 10. The Record on Appeal 10-1
Loc. R. 10(a). Retention of the Record on Appeal in the District
Court
Loc. R. 10(b). Records on Appeal
Loc. R. 10(c). Transcripts
Loc. R. 10(d). Supplemental Records, Modification, or Correction
 
Rule 11. Forwarding the Record 11-1
Loc. R. 11(a). Transcript Acknowledgments
Loc. R. 11(b). Time Limits for Filing Transcripts
Loc. R. 11(c). Exhibits
Loc. R. 11(d). Access of Counsel to Original Record
I.O.P.-11.1. Sanctions for Court Reporter's Failure to File a
Timely Transcript
 
Rule 12. Docketing the Appeal; Filing a Representation Statement;
Filing the Record 12-1
Loc. R. 12(a). Appeals by Aggrieved Non-parties in the Lower
Court
Loc. R. 12(b). Joint Appeals/Cross-appeals and Consolidations
Loc. R. 12(c). Expedition of Appeals
Loc. R. 12(d). Abeyance
Loc. R. 12(e). Intervention
 
Rule 12.1. Remand After an Indicative Ruling by the District Court on 12-3
a Motion for Relief That Is Barred by a Pending Appeal
 
Rule 13. Appeals from the Tax Court 13-1
Rule 14. Applicability of Other Rules to Appeals from the Tax Court 14-1
 
Rule 15. Review or Enforcement of an Agency Order - How
Obtained; Intervention 15-1
Loc. R. 15(a). Docketing Fee
Loc. R. 15(b). Petitions for Review
 
Rule 15.1. Briefs and Oral Argument in a National Labor Relations
Board Proceeding 15-3
 
Rule 16. The Record on Review or Enforcement 16-1
 
Rule 17. Filing the Record 17-1
 
Rule 18. Stay Pending Review 18-1
Loc. R. 18. Procedures
 
Rule 19. Settlement of a Judgment Enforcing an Agency Order in
Part 19-1
 
Rule 20. Applicability of Rules to the Review or Enforcement of an
Agency Order 20-1
 
Rule 21. Writs of Mandamus and Prohibition, and Other
Extraordinary Writs 21-1
Loc. R. 21(a). Case Captions for Extraordinary Writs
Loc. R. 21(b). Petitions for Mandamus or Prohibition
Loc. R. 21(c). Fees and Costs for Prisoner Petitions for Mandamus,
Prohibition, or other Extraordinary Relief
Loc. R. 21(d). Petitions for Writ of Mandamus Pursuant to
18 U.S.C. § 3771, Crime Victims’ Rights
 
Rule 22. Habeas Corpus and Section 2255 Proceedings 22-1
Loc. R. 22(a). Certificates of Appealability
Loc. R. 22(b). Death Penalty Cases and Motions for Stay of
Execution
Loc. R. 22(c). Petitions for Rehearing in Death Penalty Cases
Loc. R. 22(d). Motions for Authorization
I.O.P.-22.1. Death Penalty Cases
 
Rule 23. Custody or Release of a Prisoner in a Habeas Corpus
Proceeding 23-1
Rule 24. Proceeding in Forma Pauperis 24-1
Loc. R. 24. Prisoner Appeals
 
Rule 25. Filing and Service 25-1
Loc. R. 25(a). Electronic Case Filing System
Loc. R. 25(b). Use of Facsimile Equipment,
Service, Certificate of Service
Loc. R. 25(c). Confidential and Sealed Materials
 
Rule 26. Computing and Extending Time 26-1
Loc. R. 26. State Holidays and Inclement Weather
 
Rule 26.1. Corporate Disclosure Statement 26-3
Loc. R. 26.1. Disclosure of Corporate Affiliations and Other
Entities with a Direct Financial Interest in Litigation
 
Rule 27. Motions 27-1
Loc. R. 27(a). Content of Motions; Notification and Consent
Loc. R. 27(b). Procedural Orders Acted on by Clerk;
Reconsideration Thereof
Loc. R. 27(c). Form of Motions
Loc. R. 27(d). Responses; Replies
Loc. R. 27(e). Panel Assignments and Emergency Motions
Loc. R. 27(f). Motions for Summary Disposition
 
Rule 28. Briefs 28-1
Loc. R. 28(a). Consolidated Cases and Briefs
Loc. R. 28(b). Addenda and Attachments to Briefs
Loc. R. 28(c). Responsibilities of Counsel Listed on a Brief
Loc. R. 28(d). Joint Appeals and Consolidations
Loc. R. 28(e). Citation of Additional Authorities
Loc. R. 28(f). Statement of Case
 
Rule 28.1 Cross Appeals 28-5
 
Rule 29. Brief of an Amicus Curiae 29-1
 
Rule 30. Appendix to the Briefs 30-1
Loc. R. 30(a). Attorney Sanctions for Unnecessary Appendix
Designations
Loc. R. 30(b). Appendix Contents; Number of Copies
Loc. R. 30(c). Responsibility of Parties
Loc. R. 30(d). Dispensing with Appendix
 
Rule 31. Serving and Filing Briefs 31-1
Loc. R. 31(a). Shortened Time for Service and Filing of Briefs
in Criminal Cases
Loc. R. 31(b). Briefing Orders
Loc. R. 31(c). Briefing Extensions
Loc. R. 31(d). Number of Copies
 
Rule 32. Form of Briefs, Appendices, and Other Papers 32-1
Loc. R. 32(a). Reproduction of Appendices
Loc. R. 32(b). Length of Briefs
Loc. R. 32(c). Correction of Briefs and Appendices
 
Rule 32.1 Citing Judicial Dispositions 32-5
Loc. R. 32.1 Citing of Unpublished Opinions
 
Rule 33. Appeal Conferences 33-1
Loc. R. 33. Circuit Mediation Conferences
 
Rule 34. Oral Argument 34-1
Loc. R. 34(a). Oral Argument; Pre-argument Review and
Summary Disposition of Appeals; Statement
Regarding the Need for Oral Argument
Loc. R. 34(b). Informal Briefs
Loc. R. 34(c). Court Sessions and Notification to Counsel
Loc. R. 34(d). Argument Time
Loc. R. 34(e). Motion to Submit on Briefs
I.O.P.-34.1. Calendar Assignments and Panel Composition
I.O.P.-34.2. Disposition Without Oral Argument
I.O.P.-34.3 Audio Files of Oral Argument
 
Rule 35. En Banc Determination 35-1
Loc. R. 35. En Banc Proceedings
 
Rule 36. Entry of Judgment; Notice 36-1
Loc. R. 36(a). Publication of Decisions
Loc. R. 36(b). Unpublished Dispositions; Opinion Distribution
I.O.P.-36.1. Opinion Preparation Assignments
I.O.P.-36.2. Circulation of Opinions in Argued Cases
I.O.P.-36.3. Summary Opinions
I.O.P.-36.4. Internet Citations in Opinions
 
Rule 37. Interest on Judgment 37-1
Rule 38. Frivolous Appeal - Damages and Costs 38-1
 
Rule 39. Costs 39-1
Loc. R. 39(a). Reproduction Costs
Loc. R. 39(b). Bill of Costs
Loc. R. 39(c). Recovery of Costs in the District Court
 
Rule 40. Petition for Panel Rehearing 40-1
Loc. R. 40(a). Filing of Petition
Loc. R. 40(b). Statement of Purpose
Loc. R. 40(c). Time Limits for Filing Petitions
Loc. R. 40(d). Papers Filed After Denial of a Petition for Rehearing
I.O.P.-40.1. Submission of Petitions for Rehearing to the Court
I.O.P.-40.2. Panel Rehearing
 
Rule 41. Mandate: Contents; Issuance and Effective Date; Stay 41-1
Loc. R. 41. Motion for Stay of the Mandate
I.O.P.-41.1. Issuance of the Mandate
I.O.P.-41.2. Petitions for Writs of Certiorari
 
Rule 42. Voluntary Dismissal 42-1
Loc. R. 42. Voluntary Dismissals
 
Rule 43. Substitution of Parties 43-1
Rule 44. Case Involving a Constitutional Question When the United
States or the Relevant State is Not a Party 44-1
 
Rule 45. Clerk’s Duties 45-1
Loc. R. 45. Dismissals for Failure to Prosecute
I.O.P.-45.1. Clerk's Office
I.O.P.-45.2. Public Information
 
Rule 46. Attorneys 46-1
Loc. R. 46(a). Legal Assistance to Indigents by Law Students
Loc. R. 46(b). Admission to Practice
Loc. R. 46(c). Appearance of Counsel; Withdrawal; Substitutions
Loc. R. 46(d). Appointment of Counsel
Loc. R. 46(e). Attorney's Fees and Expenses
Loc. R. 46(f). Proceeding Pro Se
Loc. R. 46(g). Rules of Disciplinary Enforcement
 
Rule 47. Local Rules by Courts of Appeals 47-1
Loc. R. 47(a). Procedures for Adoption of Local Rules and
Internal Operating Procedures
Loc. R. 47(b). Advisory Committee on Rules and Procedures
I.O.P.-47.1. Judicial Conference
I.O.P.-47.2. Bar Membership in the Judicial Conference
of the Circuit
 
Rule 48. Masters 48-1