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Rules of Practice and Procedure: Recent Amendments to the Federal Rules of Practice and Procedure
Presented here is information about recent amendments to the Federal Rules of Practice and Procedure. The Administrative Office of the United States Courts has information about rules amendments longer ago.
Public Comment
- Proposed Amendments Published for Public Comment: When an advisory committee recommends an amendment to the rules, it must obtain the approval of the Judicial Conference's standing Committee on Rules of Practice and Procedure to publish the proposed amendment for public comment. During the comment period, which typically runs from August to February, the public is encouraged to submit written comments and may also request to testify at public hearings on the proposed amendment.
Potentially Effective December 1, 2021
- Amendments Package Transmitted to the Judicial Conference: Proposed amendments to Federal Rules of Appellate Procedure 3 and 6 and Forms 1 and 2, and Federal Rules of Bankruptcy Procedure 2005, 3007, 7007.1, and 9036.
- Preliminary Draft of Proposed Rules Amendments: Proposed amendments to Federal Rules of Appellate Procedure 3, 6, and 42 and Forms 1 and 2; Federal Rules of Bankruptcy Procedure 2005, 3007, 7007.1, and 9036; and Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 7.1.
Potentially Effective December 1, 2020
- Amendments Package Transmitted to Congress.
- Amendments Package Transmitted to the Supreme Court.
- Amendments Package Transmitted to the Judicial Conference: Proposed amendments to Federal Rules of Appellate Procedure 35 and 40; Federal Rules of Bankruptcy Procedure 2002, 2004, 8012, 8013, 8015, and 8021 and Form 122A-1; Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 30(b)(6); and Federal Rule of Evidence 404.
- Preliminary Draft of Proposed Rules Amendments: Proposed amendments to Federal Rules of Appellate Procedure 35 and 40; Federal Rules of Bankruptcy Procedure 2002, 2004, and 8012; Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 30; and Federal Rule of Evidence 404.
Effective December 1, 2019
- Amendments to the Federal Rules of Practice and Procedure: Evidence 2019—The Residual Hearsay Exception (video tutorial).
- House of Representatives Committee on the Judiciary Committee Prints of the Federal Rules of Appellate Procedure, Bankruptcy Procedure, Civil Procedure, Criminal Procedure, and Evidence.
- Amendments Package Transmitted to Congress.
- Amendments Package Transmitted to the Supreme Court.
- Amendments Packages Transmitted to the Judicial Conference: Proposed amendments to Federal Rules of Appellate Procedure 3, 5, 13, 21, 25, 26, 26.1, 28, 32, and 39; Federal Rules of Bankruptcy Procedure 4001, 6007, 9036, and 9037; Federal Rules of Criminal Procedure 5 of the rules governing habeas corpus proceedings; and Federal Rule of Evidence 807; and proposed new Federal Rule of Criminal Procedure 16.1.
Effective December 1, 2018
- House of Representatives Committee on the Judiciary Committee Prints of the Federal Rules of Appellate Procedure, Bankruptcy Procedure, Civil Procedure, Criminal Procedure, and Evidence.
- Amendments Package Transmitted to Congress.
- Amendments Package Transmitted to the Supreme Court: Proposed amendments to Federal Rules of Appellate Procedure 8, 11, 25, 26, 28.1, 29, 31, 39, and 41, and Forms 4 and 7; Federal Rules of Bankruptcy Procedure 3002.1, 5005, 7004, 7062, 8002, 8006, 8007, 8010, 8011, 8013, 8015, 8016, 8017, 8021, 8022, 9025, new Rule 8018.1, new Part VIII Appendix, and Forms 417A and 417C; Federal Rules of Civil Procedure 5, 23, 62, and 65.1; and Federal Rules of Criminal Procedure 12.4, 45, and 49.
Effective December 1, 2017
- Amendments to the Federal Rules of Practice and Procedure: Evidence 2017—Self-Authenticating Electronic Evidence (video tutorial).
- House of Representatives Committee on the Judiciary Committee Prints of the Federal Rules of Appellate Procedure, Bankruptcy Procedure, Civil Procedure, Criminal Procedure, and Evidence.
- Amendments Package Transmitted to Congress.
- Amendments Package Transmitted to the Supreme Court.
- Amendments Packages Transmitted to the Judicial Conference: Proposed amendments to Federal Rules of Appellate Procedure 4(a)(4)(B); Federal Rules of Bankruptcy Procedure 1001, 1006(b), 1015(b), 2002, 3002, 3007, 3012, 3015, 4003, 5009, 7001, and 9009; Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 4(m); Federal Rules of Evidence 803(16) and 902; proposed new Federal Rule of Bankruptcy Procedure 3015.1; and proposed new Bankruptcy Form 113.
Effective December 1, 2016
- House of Representatives Committee on the Judiciary Committee Prints of the Federal Rules of Appellate Procedure, Bankruptcy Procedure, Civil Procedure, Criminal Procedure, and Evidence.
- Amendments Package Transmitted to Congress.
- Amendments Package Transmitted to the Supreme Court: Amendments to Federal Rules of Appellate Procedure 4, 5, 21, 25, 26, 27, 28, 28.1, 29, 32, 35, and 40, and Forms 1, 5, and 6, and new Form 7; amendments to Federal Rules of Bankruptcy Procedure 1010, 1011, 2002, 3002.1, and 9006(f), and new Rule 1012; amendments to Federal Rules of Civil Procedure 4, 6, and 82; and amendments to Federal Rules of Criminal Procedure 4, 41, and 45.
- Supplemental Amendments Transmitted to the Supreme Court: Amendments to Federal Rules of Bankruptcy Procedure 7008, 7012, 7016, 9027, and 9033 (the Stern amendments).
Effective December 1, 2015
- Amendments to the Federal Rules of Practice and Procedure: Civil Rules 2015 (video tutorials).
- The Chief Justice's 2015 Year-End Report.
- House of Representatives Committee on the Judiciary Committee Prints of the Federal Rules of Appellate Procedure, Bankruptcy Procedure, Civil Procedure, Criminal Procedure, and Evidence.
- Amendments Package Transmitted to Congress: Amendments to Federal Rule of Bankruptcy Procedure 1007 and Federal Rules of Civil Procedure 1, 4, 16, 26, 30, 31, 33, 34, 37, and 55, and the abrogation of Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 84 and the Appendix of Forms.
- Civil Rules Redline.
- PowerPoint Presentation of Civil Rules Amendments.
- District of Maryland's Civil Rules Amendments Comparison Chart.