Court Operations in the Event of a Government Shutdown

Operation of the United States Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit will not be affected, at least initially, by a shutdown of the federal government that will commence Sunday, October 1, unless Congress enacts an appropriation bill or a continuing resolution.

Cases calendared for oral argument during the month of October will proceed as scheduled. Parties remain obligated to meet all scheduled deadlines for filing and comply with the filing requirements of the Federal Rules of Appellate Procedure and this court’s Local Rules.

The Administrative Office of the United States Courts has announced that the Judiciary is prepared to use carryover funds and fees to keep the courts running for several weeks. Once that funding is exhausted, however, the federal courts face serious disruptions.

Should it become necessary for the D.C. Circuit to limit activities, an announcement will be posted on this website.