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Appellate Court Rules – 2026

Appeals to the Appellate Division of the High Court, cited "4 ACR". The Appellate Division sits as five members — one resident justice, two acting associate justices selected by the Secretary of the Interior (usually sitting federal appellate judges) and two associate judges. The sequence is unusually short and strictly enforced: a motion for a new trial must be filed within 10 DAYS of the judgment, and the notice of appeal within 10 days after that motion is denied (ACR 4; the case notes treat the new-trial motion as mandatory and jurisdictional). Rehearing and the bill of costs each run 14 days. Beyond the Appellate Division there is nothing standard — no certiorari path to the U.S. Supreme Court exists from the High Court.

Browse all 39 rules of the 2026 edition below. Each rule includes the full text, a plain-English summary, committee notes, amendment history, and cross-references to related rules. Use the search box to find rules by keyword or number.

Rule 1 Title and Scope Rule 2 Suspension of Rules Rule 3 Appeal as of Right – How Taken Rule 4 Appeal as of Right – When Taken Rule 7 Bond for Costs on Appeal in Civil Cases Rule 8 Stay or Injunction Pending Appeal Rule 9 Release in Criminal Cases Rule 10 The Record on Appeal Rule 11 Transmission of the Record Rule 12 Docketing the Appeal; Filing of the Record Rule 15 Review or Enforcement of Agency Orders – How Obtained; Intervention Rule 16 The Record on Review or Enforcement Rule 17 Filing of the Record Rule 18 Stay Pending Review Rule 19 Settlement of Judgments Enforcing Orders Rule 20 Applicability of Other Rules to Review or Enforcement of Agency Orders Rule 21 Extraordinary Writs Rule 22 Habeas Corpus Proceedings Rule 23 Custody of Prisoners in Habeas Corpus Proceedings Rule 24 Proceedings in Forma Pauperis Rule 25 Filing and Service Rule 26 Computation and Extension of Time Rule 27 Motions Rule 28 Briefs Rule 29 Brief of an Amicus Curiae Rule 30 Appendix to the Briefs Rule 31 Filing and Service of Briefs Rule 33 Prehearing Conference Rule 34 Oral Argument Rule 36 Entry of Judgment Rule 37 Interest on Judgments Rule 38 Damages for Delay Rule 39 Costs Rule 40 Petition for Rehearing Rule 41 Issuance of Mandate: Stay of Mandate Rule 42 Voluntary Dismissal Rule 43 Substitution of Parties Rule 44 Cases Involving Constitutional Questions Where American Samoa Government Is Not a Party Rule 45 Duties of Clerk