Table of Contents

GENERAL PROVISIONS

Attorney Admission & eFiling Registration

Admission Required

Eligibility Requirements

Application for Admission

eFiling Registration

Related Links

Filing and Service

Electronic Filing and Service by Counsel

Paper Filing and Service by Pro Se Litigants

Certificates of Service

Computation of Time

Deadlines Running from Service of a Document

Specific Documents (chart)

Related Links

Appellate Deadlines

Calculation of Deadlines

Initial Documents

Motions

Briefing & Calendaring

Post-Decision

Sealed & Confidential Materials

Internet Availability of Docket & Documents

Federal Rules of Procedure

Judicial Conference Privacy Policy

Local Rule 25(c)

Sealed Volume of Appendix/Supplemental Appendix

Sealed Version of Brief

Sealed Version of Motions and Other Documents

Motions to Seal

Highly Sensitive Documents

INITIAL REQUIREMENTS

New Appeals & Petitions

Final Judgment Rule

Civil Appeals

Criminal Appeals

Content of Notice of Appeal

Jurisdiction of District Court Pending Appeal

Petitions for Permission to Appeal and Answers to Petition

Mandamus Petitions and Answers

Motions for Authorization to File Successive Post-Conviction Applications

Petitions for Review

Applications for Enforcement and Answers

Tax Court Appeals

Related Links

Appeal Fees and Indigent Status

Fee Payments

Criminal Appeals & Criminal Justice Act Status

Prisoner Civil Appeals & Prison Litigation Reform Act Status

Civil Appeals & In Forma Pauperis Status

Petitions for Permission to Appeal

Petitions for Review of Agency Action

Tax Court Appeals

Petitions for Mandamus, Prohibition & Extraordinary Relief

Prisoner Petitions for Mandamus, Prohibition & Extraordinary Relief

Motions for Authorization to File Successive Habeas Corpus Applications

Related Links

Appointment of Counsel in Criminal Cases

Duty to Continue Representation

Motions to Withdraw

Compensation and Reimbursement of Expenses

Related Links

Appearance, Disclosure & Docketing Statements

Appearance of Counsel

Disclosure of Corporate Affiliations and Financial Interests

Docketing Statement

Related Links

Transcript & Record on Appeal

Transcript Order

Designation of Additional Parts of Transcript

Ordering Additional Parts of Transcript

Cross-Appeals

Transcript Deadlines

Transcript Format

Transcript Redaction

Statement of the Evidence When No Transcript is Available

Compilation of the Record

District Court Record in Pro Se Cases

District Court Record in Counseled Cases

Access of Counsel to District Court Record

Exhibits

Agreed Statement of the Record on Appeal

Supplemental Records, Modification or Correction

Administrative Record in Social Security Disability Appeals and Immigration Review Cases

Record in Other Agency Review Cases

Certified List

Tax Court Records

Related Links

Mediation

Local Rule 33

Briefing

Confidentiality

Related Links

MOTIONS

Motion Practice

Motion Length & Content

Statement Regarding Consent

Response Length & Content

Response Deadline

Reply Length & Content

Reply Deadline

Format

Clerk Orders

Court Orders

Related Links

Specific Motions

Motions for Stay or Injunction Pending Appeal

Motions for Bail Pending Appeal

Motions to Expedite

Motions for Abeyance

Motions to Intervene

Motions to Dismiss

Motions for Summary Affirmance or Reversal

Motions to Submit on the Briefs

Motions for Voluntary Dismissal

Related Links

BRIEFING

Formal Briefing

Use of Formal Briefing Schedule

Briefing Schedule

Extensions

Failure to File Brief

Leave to File Amicus Briefs

Corrections

Brief Citations to the Appendix (effective 07/15/2022)

Related Links

FOURTH CIRCUIT BRIEF & JOINT APPENDIX REQUIREMENTS (07/15/2022)

Note on Paper Copies: Paper copies of briefs and appendices are currently not required unless otherwise ordered by the court. Four paper copies are typically ordered if a case is tentatively calendared for argument.

Note on Brief Templates: Templates for Opening, Response, Reply, Opening/Response, and Response/Reply Briefs are available here: Brief Templates.

Informal Briefing

Use of Informal Briefing Schedule

Informal Brief Content and Format

No Appendix

Informal Briefing Deadlines

Informal Preliminary Briefing Deadlines

Failure to File Brief

Appointment of Counsel for Formal Briefing and Oral Argument

Related Links

CALENDARING & ARGUMENT

Pre-Argument Review & Calendaring

Requesting Oral Argument

Pre-argument Review Panel

Tentative Calendaring of Cases for Argument

Calendaring of Cases for Argument

Related Links

Oral Argument

Richmond Sessions

Special Sessions

Courthouse Security

Electronic Device Policy

Pre-argument Registration

Argument Panel

Argument Time

Internet Availability of Argument Audio Files

Intervenors

Amicus

Exhibits

Seating

Recess

Greeting

Related Links

DECISION & POST DECISION

Opinion and Judgment

Opinion Assignments

Unpublished Opinions

Citation of Unpublished Opinions

Published Opinions

Circulation of Opinions

Issuance of Opinions

Notice of Judgment

Related Links

Rehearing & Rehearing En Banc

Grounds for Rehearing

Grounds for Hearing or Rehearing En Banc

Length & Format of Petition

Filing Period

Submission to the Court

Response

Filing of Amicus Briefs During Consideration of Whether to Grant Rehearing

Panel Rehearing

Decision to Hear or Rehear a Case En Banc

Poll

Additional Briefing for En Banc Hearing or Rehearing

Reproduction Costs for Briefs and Appendices Required for En Banc Review

Panel Judgment Vacated

Decision of Cases Heard or Reheard En Banc

Effect of Petition on Time to Petition for Certiorari

Papers Following Denial of Rehearing or Expiration of Rehearing Period

Related Links

Costs and Attorney’s Fees

To Whom Allowed

Costs Taxable in the Court of Appeals

Costs Taxable in the District Court

Bill of Costs

Objections to Bill of Costs

Award of Costs

Recovery of Costs

Attorney's Fees

Related Links

Mandate

Nature and Effect

Time of Issuance

Staying the Mandate

Related Links