Common ECF Events with Definitions



Appearance of counsel

BRIEF (formal briefs not under seal)

  • Select this entry for all formal briefs.  Within the entry you will select the type of brief you are filing; opening, response, reply, opening & response, response & reply, supplemental opening, or supplemental response. See Brief and Appendix Requirements for detailed information on formal brief contents and format.

Certificate of confidentiality

Disclosure statement

  • All parties to a civil or bankruptcy case and all corporate defendants in a criminal case (excluding the United States, indigent parties, and state or local governments in pro se cases) must file the Disclosure statement within 14-days of case initiation.
  • The government is required to file a disclosure statement if there is an organizational victim in a criminal case. A disclosure statement for debtor information in a bankruptcy case is required (even if the debtor is not a party to the appeal).

Docketing statement (civil/agency)

Docketing statement (criminal)

Docketing statement objection/correction

JOINT APPENDIX and SUPPLEMENTAL APPENDIX

  • Select these entries for filing an appendix in cases with a formal briefing schedule. See the Electronic Appendix Instructions for detailed information on creating and filing an appendix. See Brief and Appendix Requirements for detailed information on formal appendix contents and format.

MOTION

  • Select this entry when filing any non-sealed motion. Within the entry you will choose a “relief” to specify the type of motion. If the motion contains sealed material, file a redacted version using the Motion entry and the sealed version using the SEALED DOCUMENT entry and Certificate of confidentiality entry.

    Common Motion Reliefs

    Relief

    Use

    Approve/authorize

    Use when seeking approval for CJA funds for travel, translators, copy shops, etc.

    Extend filing time

    Use when seeking an extension of time to file a document.

    Dismiss appeal

    Use when asking the court to dismiss the appeal.  If the motion is also asking to stay/suspend the briefing shedule, also select the relief “Suspend.”  Do not use when the appellant/petitioner is seeking to have the appeal dismissed pursuant to FRAP 42(b).

    Dismiss appeal pursuant to FRAP 42(b)

    Use when the appellant/petitioner agrees to dismiss the appeal.

    Suspend

    Use when seeking suspension of a briefing schedule.

    Withdraw

    Do not use when counsel is seeking to withdraw or be relieved as counsel of record.

    Withdraw/relieve/substitute

    Use when counsel is seeking to withdraw or be relieved as counsel of record.

Notice that no brief will be filed

  • Select this entry to inform the court that a brief will not be filed by a party to the case.  Do not use Letter or Notice re: to file notice that a brief will not be filed.

Oral argument acknowledgment

  • Any attorney arguing, as well as any attorney appearing on behalf of a separately represented co-defendant in a consolidated criminal case, must file the Oral Argument Acknowledgment form within seven days of service of the Oral Argument Notification.

Petition for rehearing by panel

  • Select this entry if you are filing a petition seeking rehearing by the panel only

Petition for rehearing en banc

  • Select this entry if you are filing a petition seeking rehearing by the en banc court only.

Petition for rehearing with petition for rehearing en banc

  • Select this entry if you are filing a petition seeking rehearing by the panel OR the en banc court.

REPLY (to response)

RESPONSE/ANSWER (to motion or request)

RESPONSE/ANSWER (to Similar Case notice)

  • Select this entry when responding to the court’s Notice requesting response to similar case inquiry.

SEALED BRIEF  (court access) (formal briefs under seal)

SEALED DOCUMENT  (court access only)

SEALED JOINT APPENDIX (court access) and SEALED SUPPLEMENTAL APPENDIX (court access)

Supplemental authorities

  • Select this entry when notifying the court of additional authorities pursuant to FRAP 28(j).  Do not use Letter or Notice re: to file Supplemental Authorities.

Supplemental authorities response

Transcript order form