Handbook I.A: Courthouse
D.C. Circuit Rules — Handbook, Part I. Introduction to the Court
The United States Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit is located in the E. Barrett Prettyman United States Courthouse and William B. Bryant Annex on Constitution Avenue between Third Street and John Marshall Park, Northwest, Washington, D.C. The mailing address is: E. Barrett Prettyman United States Courthouse, 333 Constitution Avenue, N.W., Washington, D.C. 20001-2866. The principal facilities of the Court are the judges' chambers, the courtrooms, the Office of the Circuit Executive, the Office of the Clerk, the Legal Division, the Circuit Library, and the Mediation Office.
The United States District Court for the District of Columbia, the United States Bankruptcy Court, the United States Marshal's Office, and the United States Probation Office also are located in the Courthouse.
The Courthouse became a "smoke-free" building in 1996. Smoking is not permitted in the public areas or in any of the Courthouse offices.
1. Chambers
Access to the area of the judges' chambers is limited to court personnel and others with legitimate reasons for visiting. Visitors should make advance arrangements with the judges' chambers and must be admitted through the security system on the third or fifth floor.
2. Office of the Circuit Executive
The Office of the Circuit Executive is located in Room 4712 on the fourth floor of the Prettyman Courthouse. Access to the Office is limited to court personnel and others with legitimate reasons for visiting. Visitors should make advance arrangements and must be admitted through the court security system.
3. Office of the Clerk
The Office of the Clerk’s public counter is located in Room 5205. This is where the Court’s dockets—the official records of cases before the Court—and orders of the Court may be accessed, paper filings with the Court may be made, and fees for Court services may be paid. The Court’s website lists the hours when the Clerk’s Office is open. The Clerk’s Office is closed on federal holidays and any other day designated by the Chief Judge. A filing depository, available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, is located inside the entrance to the William B. Bryant Annex on the Third Street side of the Courthouse. See infra Part II.C.2. The Clerk’s Office does not accept cash as payment, and all in-person payments must be made via check, cashier’s check, or money order.
4. Legal Division
The Legal Division is located on the third floor of the Courthouse. Access to the Legal Division is limited to court personnel and others with legitimate reasons for visiting. Visitors should make advance arrangements and must be admitted through the court security system.
5. Circuit Library
The Circuit Library, located on the third floor of the Courthouse, may be used by court personnel, members of the bar of the Court of Appeals or the District Court, and any person who is counsel or a party in a case pending in this Circuit, or by the permission of a judge of this Circuit. Any person wishing to use the government document collection will be admitted for that purpose, subject to generally applicable security and other restrictions. Library hours and policies are posted on the Court’s website.
6. Mediation Office
The Mediation Office is located in Room 5217 on the fifth floor of the Prettyman Courthouse. Mediation sessions scheduled by the Mediation Office are held in the Mediation Conference Rooms 5720-A, 5720-B, and 5720-C.