Revised Rules of the Court

The Supreme Court of the United States today adopted a revised version of the Rules of the Court. The revised version will take effect on October 1, 2007. Rule 48 clarifies which version of the Rules applies to documents filed prior to the effective date of the revised Rules.

The revisions to the Rules include a change from page limitations to a word count similar to the 1998 Amendment to the Federal Rules of Appellate Procedure. See Rule 33. Changes to Rule 25 revise the briefing schedule and require an electronic version of merits briefs be transmitted to the Clerk. Rule 37 revisions require amici curiae to notify counsel of record of intent to file an amicus curiae brief at the petition stage, and to electronically transmit every amicus curiae brief in a case scheduled for oral argument. Also, amici curiae supporting a petitioner at the petition stage will be required to file within 30 days after the case is placed on the docket or a response is called for by the Court, whichever is later, and no extensions will be allowed. The briefs of amici curiae at the merits stage will be due 7 days after the brief for the party supported is filed.

Copies of the revisions may be obtained from the Court's Public Information Office. The revisions are also posted on the Court's website under Court Rules, www.supremecourtus.gov/ctrules.

The Clerk's Comments are not part of the Rules, but are furnished to assist readers in understanding the changes.

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Last Updated: July 17, 2007
Page Name: http://www.supremecourtus.gov/publicinfo/press/pr_07-17-07.html