Changes to the Tenth Circuit Rules and Other Information (with hat tip to Megan Barrett, Kansas Paralegal Association)

https://www.ca10.uscourts.gov/clerk/rules, https://www.ca10.uscourts.gov/clerk/filing-your-appeal/atty, and https://www.ca10.uscourts.gov/clerk/quick-reference-guides

Please take note that the 2020 Rules for the U.S. District Court for the Tenth Circuit will change as of January 1, 2020.  Read more about these changes in the announcement from the Court below and the first link provided above. Now is a good time to review these changes and update your 10^th Circuit docketing cheat sheets.

If you do not frequently file federal appeals, please note the New Or Infrequent Attorney Filer (look to the right of the web page screen) and Quick Reference Guide button (see second and third links above).  You will find forms and tips for those who do not regularly practice in this federal appellate court.  To help learn these rules and formats, I recommend revising these guides yourself with the new court rules.  This exercise will be well worth your time and help you to memorize the 2020 rule changes. -CCE

INFORMATION PROVIDED BY THE 10th CIRCUIT COURT CLERK:

The 2020 Tenth Circuit Rules take effect January 1, 2020. Among other changes, Tenth Circuit Rules 30 and 31 have been revised to alter the process for submitting hard copies of formal merits briefs and appendices. For all formal merits briefs and appendices filed on or after January 1, 2020 (regardless of when an appeal was filed), counsel should NOT submit the required hard copies until the Clerk’s Office confirms via minute order that the electronically-filed brief and appendix comply with all applicable federal and local rules. Hard copies must be received in the Clerk’s Office within five business days from entry of the minute order confirming compliance, which will also set a deadline for the next brief (if any) to be filed.

If an electronically-filed brief or appendix is not compliant, the Clerk’s Office will issue a deficiency notice giving counsel three business days to electronically file a compliant brief/appendix. Errata sheets will no longer be accepted; counsel must correct deficiencies by re-filing the entire brief/appendix. After the Clerk’s Office confirms that the refiled brief/appendix is compliant, the Clerk’s Office will issue the aforementioned minute order setting (1) the five-business-day deadline for receipt of hard copies; and (2) a deadline for the next brief to be filed.

Hard copies of supplemental/ memorandum briefs are not required unless the court expressly orders otherwise. Hard copies of motions, responses, replies, and bail memorandum briefs/appendices are not required. See 10th Cir. R. 27.2 and 9.5.

The full text of the 2020 Tenth Circuit Rules, and a memorandum detailing all 2020 revisions, can be found at https://www.ca10.uscourts.gov/clerk/rules. Please contact the Tenth Circuit Clerk’s Office (303-844-3157 | Clerk@ca10.uscourts.gov) with any questions or concerns.

Chris Wolpert
Chief Deputy Clerk