Handbook X.B: Merits Panels
D.C. Circuit Rules — Handbook, Part X. The Court's Calendar
The Clerk assigns the judges in panels of three to the sitting days for which they are available for an entire term. The Clerk attempts to pair each active judge with each other active judge an equal number of weeks during the year, insofar as availability permits. If a judge becomes unavailable, he or she may arrange to switch sitting dates with another judge. Depending on their availability, senior judges of this Court also serve on panels.