United States Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit

3rd Circuit Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

About This Court

Hears appeals from the district courts of the 3rd Circuit, listed below. Proceedings are governed by the Federal Rules of Appellate Procedure, along with the court's own rules.

Active Judges 14

Name	Appointed By	Confirmed	Law School
Stephanos Bibas	Donald J. Trump	2017	Yale Law School
Emil Bove	Donald J. Trump	2025	Georgetown University Law Center
Michael Chagares	George W. Bush	2006	Seton Hall University School of Law
Cindy Chung	Joseph R. Biden	2023	Columbia Law School
Arianna Freeman	Joseph R. Biden	2022	Yale Law School
Thomas Hardiman	George W. Bush	2007	Georgetown University Law Center
Cheryl Krause	Barack Obama	2014	Stanford Law School
Jennifer Mascott	Donald J. Trump	2025	George Washington University Law School
Paul Matey	Donald J. Trump	2019	Seton Hall University School of Law
Tamika Montgomery-Reeves	Joseph R. Biden	2022	University of Georgia School of Law
Peter Phipps	Donald J. Trump	2019	Stanford Law School
David Porter	Donald J. Trump	2018	George Mason University School of Law (now Antonin Scalia Law School)
Luis Restrepo	Barack Obama	2016	Tulane University Law School
Patty Shwartz	Barack Obama	2013	University of Pennsylvania Law School (now Carey Law School)

Senior Judges 10

Name	Appointed By	Confirmed	Law School
Thomas Ambro	William J. Clinton	2000	Georgetown University Law Center
Robert Cowen	Ronald Reagan	1987	Rutgers School of Law -- Newark
D. Fisher	George W. Bush	2003	Georgetown University Law Center
Julio Fuentes	William J. Clinton	2000	State University of New York at Buffalo Law School
Theodore McKee	William J. Clinton	1994	Syracuse University College of Law
Richard Nygaard	Ronald Reagan	1988	University of Michigan Law School
Marjorie Rendell	William J. Clinton	1997	Villanova University School of Law
Jane Roth	George H.W. Bush	1991	Harvard Law School
Anthony Scirica	Ronald Reagan	1987	University of Michigan Law School
D[avid] Smith	George W. Bush	2002	Dickinson School of Law (now Penn State Dickinson Law)

Local Rules

The Local Appellate Rules and Internal Operating Procedures of the Third Circuit, which supplement the Federal Rules of Appellate Procedure. See the court's official website for the authoritative text.

L.A.R. 1.0 Scope and Title of Rules 2

Rule	Title
L.A.R. 1.1	Scope and Organization of Rules
L.A.R. 1.2	Title; Citation Form

L.A.R. 3.0 Appeal as of Right - How Taken 4

Rule	Title
L.A.R. 3.1	Notice to Trial Judge; Opinion in Support of Order
L.A.R. 3.2	Joint Notice of Appeal
L.A.R. 3.3	Payment of Fees
L.A.R. 3.4	Notice of Appeal in Pro Se Cases

L.A.R. 4.0 Appeal as of Right - When Taken 1

Rule	Title
L.A.R. 4.1	Motions to Expedite

L.A.R. 5.0 Appeals by Permission Under 28 U.S.C. § 1292(b) [Abrogated] 1

Rule	Title
L.A.R. 5.1	Petition for Permission to Appeal [Abrogated]

L.A.R. 8.0 Stay or Injunction Pending Appeal 3

Rule	Title
L.A.R. 8.1	Motion for Stay in Court of Appeals
L.A.R. 8.2	Expedited Consideration
L.A.R. 8.3	Death Penalty Cases

L.A.R. 9.0 Release in Criminal Cases 1

Rule	Title
L.A.R. 9.1	Appeals of Orders Relating to Release or Detention; Release Before Judgment of Conviction

L.A.R. 11.0 Transmission of the Record 2

Rule	Title
L.A.R. 11.1	Duty of Appellant
L.A.R. 11.2	Retention of the Record in the District Court

L.A.R. 15.0 Review or Enforcement of Agency Orders - How Obtained; Intervention 1

Rule	Title
L.A.R. 15.1	Brief and Argument in Enforcement and Review Proceedings

L.A.R. 18.0 Stay Pending Review 1

Rule	Title
L.A.R. 18.1	Stay of an Order or Decision of an Agency

L.A.R. 21.0 Mandamus Petitions in Crime Victims Rights Cases 1

Rule	Title
L.A.R. 21.1	Petitions for Writ of Mandamus Pursuant to 18 U.S.C. § 3771(d)(3)

L.A.R. 22.0 Habeas Corpus Proceedings 5

Rule	Title
L.A.R. 22.1	Necessity of Certificate of Appealability
L.A.R. 22.2	Statement of Reasons for Certificate of Appealability
L.A.R. 22.3	Review of Application for Certificate of Appealability
L.A.R. 22.4	Death Penalty Cases
L.A.R. 22.5	Application for Authorization to File a Second or Successive Petition Under 28 U.S.C. § 2254 or § 2255

L.A.R. 24.0 Proceedings in Forma Pauperis 3

Rule	Title
L.A.R. 24.1	Documents Required with Application
L.A.R. 24.2	Failure to File
L.A.R. 24.3	Issuance of Order

L.A.R. 25.0 Filing and Service 3

Rule	Title
L.A.R. 25.1	Electronic Filing and Service
L.A.R. 25.2	Facsimile Filing
L.A.R. 25.3	Personal Identifiers

L.A.R. 26.0 Computing and Extending Time 1

Rule	Title
L.A.R. 26.1	Deadline for Filing

L.A.R. 26.1.0 Corporate Disclosure Statement 2

Rule	Title
L.A.R. 26.1.1	Disclosure of Corporate Affiliations and Financial Interest
L.A.R. 26.1.2	Notice of Possible Judicial Disqualification

L.A.R. 27.0 Motions 8

Rule	Title
L.A.R. 27.1	No Oral Argument Except When Ordered
L.A.R. 27.2	Service
L.A.R. 27.3	Uncontested Motions
L.A.R. 27.4	Motions for Summary Action
L.A.R. 27.5	Powers of Single Judge
L.A.R. 27.6	Motions Decided by the Clerk
L.A.R. 27.7	Motions in Which Expedited Consideration is Requested
L.A.R. 27.8	Supplemental Pro Se Motions Prohibited

L.A.R. 28.0 Briefs 5

Rule	Title
L.A.R. 28.1	Brief of the Appellant
L.A.R. 28.2	Brief of the Appellee
L.A.R. 28.3	Citation Form; Certification
L.A.R. 28.4	Signing the Brief
L.A.R. 28.5	Page Limitations in Cross Appeals (Abrogated in 2008 as duplicative of F.R.A.P. 28.1)

L.A.R. 29.0 Amici Curiae Briefs 1

Rule	Title
L.A.R. 29.1	Time for Filing Amici Curiae Briefs on Rehearing

L.A.R. 30.0 Appendix to the Briefs 5

Rule	Title
L.A.R. 30.1	Number to be Filed
L.A.R. 30.2	Hearing on Original Papers
L.A.R. 30.3	Contents of Appendix
L.A.R. 30.4	Deferred Appendix
L.A.R. 30.5	Sanctions Pursuant to FRAP 30(b)(2)

L.A.R. 31.0 Filing and Service of Briefs 4

Rule	Title
L.A.R. 31.1	Number of Copies to be Filed and Served
L.A.R. 31.2	Appellee's Brief
L.A.R. 31.3	Supplemental Pro Se Briefs Prohibited
L.A.R. 31.4	Motions for Extension of Time to File a Brief

L.A.R. 32.0 Form of Briefs, the Appendix and Other Documents 3

Rule	Title
L.A.R. 32.1	Forms of Briefs, Appendices, Motions, and Other Papers documents
L.A.R. 32.2	Form of Briefs and Appendices
L.A.R. 32.3	Form of Motions and Other Documents Only

L.A.R. 33.0 Appellate Mediation Program 6

Rule	Title
L.A.R. 33.1	Appellate Mediation Program
L.A.R. 33.2	Eligibility for Appellate Mediation Program
L.A.R. 33.3	Initial Screening and Deferral of Briefing for Cases Selected for Mediation
L.A.R. 33.4	Referral of Matters to Mediation by a Judge or Panel of the Court
L.A.R. 33.5	Proceedings After Selection for the Program
L.A.R. 33.6	Mediation in Pro Se Cases

L.A.R. 34.0 Oral Argument 3

Rule	Title
L.A.R. 34.1	In General
L.A.R. 34.2	Continuance
L.A.R. 34.3	No Oral Argument on Motions Except When Ordered

L.A.R. 35.0 Determination of Causes by the Court En Banc 5

Rule	Title
L.A.R. 35.1	Required Statement for Rehearing En Banc
L.A.R. 35.2	Form, Filing, and Required Attachments to Petition for Rehearing En Banc
L.A.R. 35.3	Composition of En Banc Quorum
L.A.R. 35.4	Caution
L.A.R. 35.5	Death Penalty Cases

L.A.R. 36.0 Entry of Judgment 2

Rule	Title
L.A.R. 36.1	Opinions
L.A.R. 36.2	Copies of Printed Opinions (Abrogated in 2008)

L.A.R. 39.0 Costs 4

Rule	Title
L.A.R. 39.1	Certification or Certiorari to Supreme Court
L.A.R. 39.2	Schedule of Fees and Costs
L.A.R. 39.3	Taxation of Reproduction Costs
L.A.R. 39.4	Filing Date; Support for Bill of Costs

L.A.R. 40.0 Petition for Panel Rehearing 1

Rule	Title
L.A.R. 40.1	Form, Filing, and Required Attachments to Petition for Panel Rehearing

L.A.R. 45.0 Duties of Clerks 2

Rule	Title
L.A.R. 45.1	Office - Where Kept
L.A.R. 45.2	Daily Listing of Cases

L.A.R. 46.0 Attorneys 4

Rule	Title
L.A.R. 46.1	Admission
L.A.R. 46.2	Entry of Appearance
L.A.R. 46.3	Entry of Appearance by Eligible Law Students
L.A.R. 46.4	Signing Documents

L.A.R. 47.0 Rules by Courts of Appeals 1

Rule	Title
L.A.R. 47.1	Advisory Committee

L.A.R. 48.0 Special Masters 1

Rule	Title
L.A.R. 48.1	Special Masters

L.A.R. Misc. 101.0 Constitution of the Court - Panels - Quorum 2

Rule	Title
L.A.R. Misc. 101.1	The Court - Judges who Constitute it
L.A.R. Misc. 101.2	Quorum - Adjournment in Absence of - By Whom Adjourned

L.A.R. Misc. 102.0 Sessions 1

Rule	Title
L.A.R. Misc. 102.1	Sessions - When and Where Held

L.A.R. Misc. 103.0 Marshal, Crier, and Other Officers 1

Rule	Title
L.A.R. Misc. 103.1	Who Shall Attend Court

L.A.R. Misc. 104.0 Court Libraries 1

Rule	Title
L.A.R. Misc. 104.1	Regulations Governing Use of Libraries

L.A.R. Misc. 105.0 Judicial Conference of the Third Circuit 1

Rule	Title
L.A.R. Misc. 105.1	Attendance at Invitations to the Conference

L.A.R. Misc. 106.0 Filing of Documents Under Seal 1

Rule	Title
L.A.R. Misc. 106.1	Necessity; Grand Jury Matters; Previously Impounded Records; Unsealing

L.A.R. Misc. 107.0 Sanctions 4

Rule	Title
L.A.R. Misc. 107.1	Dismissal of Appeal for Failure to Pay Certain Fees
L.A.R. Misc. 107.2	Dismissal for Failure to Prosecute
L.A.R. Misc. 107.3	Non-Conforming Motion, Brief or Appendix
L.A.R. Misc. 107.4	Sanctions Pursuant to FRAP 30(b)(2)

L.A.R. Misc. 108.0 Applications for Attorney's Fees and Expenses 3

Rule	Title
L.A.R. Misc. 108.1	Application for Fees
L.A.R. Misc. 108.2	Objections to Applications for Fees
L.A.R. Misc. 108.3	Fee Applications Under 18 U.S.C. § 3006A

L.A.R. Misc. 109.0 Counsel in Direct Criminal Appeals 2

Rule	Title
L.A.R. Misc. 109.1	Trial Counsel to Continue Representation on Appeal
L.A.R. Misc. 109.2	Motions by Trial Counsel to Withdraw Representation

L.A.R. Misc. 110.0 Certification of Questions of State Law 1

Rule	Title
L.A.R. Misc. 110.1	Certification of Questions of State Law

L.A.R. Misc. 111.0 Death Penalty Cases 9

Rule	Title
L.A.R. Misc. 111.1	Scope
L.A.R. Misc. 111.2	Preliminary Requirements
L.A.R. Misc. 111.3	Review of Direct Criminal Appeals, Petitions for Writs of Habeas Corpus and Motions to Vacate Sentence
L.A.R. Misc. 111.4	Motion for Stay of Execution of a Federal or State Court Judgment and Motions to Vacate Orders Granting a Stay
L.A.R. Misc. 111.5	Statement of the Case; Exhaustion; Issues Presented
L.A.R. Misc. 111.6	Consideration of Merits
L.A.R. Misc. 111.7	Determination of Causes by the Court En Banc
L.A.R. Misc. 111.8	Post-Judgment Motions
L.A.R. Misc. 111.9	Second or Successive Petitions

L.A.R. Misc. 112 Petitions for Writ of Certiorari to the Supreme Court of the Virgin Islands 14

Rule	Title
L.A.R. Misc. 112.1	Considerations Governing Review on Certiorari
L.A.R. Misc. 112.2	Petition for Writ of Certiorari - How Sought
L.A.R. Misc. 112.3	Cross-Petitions for Certiorari
L.A.R. Misc. 112.4	Extension of Time to File Petitions
L.A.R. Misc. 112.5	Denominating Parties
L.A.R. Misc. 112.6	The Petition for Writ of Certiorari
L.A.R. Misc. 112.7	Appendix
L.A.R. Misc. 112.8	Brief in Opposition - in Support - Reply - Supplemental Briefs
L.A.R. Misc. 112.9	Format and Length
L.A.R. Misc. 112.10	Disposition of a Petition for Writ of Certiorari
L.A.R. Misc. 112.11	Record on Review
L.A.R. Misc. 112.12	Rehearings
L.A.R. Misc. 112.13	Costs
L.A.R. Misc. 112.14	Applicability of the Federal Rules of Appellate Procedure

L.A.R. Misc. 113 Electronic Filing 14

Rule	Title
L.A.R. Misc. 113.1	Scope of Electronic Filing
L.A.R. Misc. 113.2	Eligibility, Registration, Passwords
L.A.R. Misc. 113.3	Consequences of Electronic Filing
L.A.R. Misc. 113.4	Service of Documents by Electronic Means
L.A.R. Misc. 113.5	Entry of Court-Issued Documents
L.A.R. Misc. 113.6	Attachments and Exhibits to Motions and Original Proceedings
L.A.R. Misc. 113.7	Sealed Documents
L.A.R. Misc. 113.8	Retention Requirements
L.A.R. Misc. 113.9	Signatures
L.A.R. Misc. 113.10	Notice of Court Orders and Judgments
L.A.R. Misc. 113.11	Technical Failures
L.A.R. Misc. 113.12	Public Access
L.A.R. Misc. 113.13	Hyperlinks
L.A.R. Misc. 113.14	Changes

Internal Operating Procedures 1

Rule	Title
I.O.P. Introduction	Introduction

I.O.P. Chapter 1. Briefs and Preparation 2

Rule	Title
I.O.P. 1.1	Prior to Panel Sitting
I.O.P. 1.2	Responsibility of Panel Prior to Scheduled Sitting

I.O.P. Chapter 2. Oral Argument 6

Rule	Title
I.O.P. 2.1	Determination in Panel Cases
I.O.P. 2.2	Determination in Cases En banc
I.O.P. 2.3	Failure to Notify Presiding Judge
I.O.P. 2.4	Suggested Criteria for Oral Argument
I.O.P. 2.5	Notice to Counsel
I.O.P. 2.6	Posting of Oral Argument on the Court's Website

I.O.P. Chapter 3. Composition of Panels and Order of Precedence 3

Rule	Title
I.O.P. 3.1	Composition of Panel
I.O.P. 3.2	Presiding Judge
I.O.P. 3.3	Entering Court

I.O.P. Chapter 4. Panel Conference Procedure 2

Rule	Title
I.O.P. 4.1	Tentative Views
I.O.P. 4.2	Opinion Assignment

I.O.P. Chapter 5. Opinions 7

Rule	Title
I.O.P. 5.1	Forms of Opinions
I.O.P. 5.2	Precedential Opinions
I.O.P. 5.3	Not Precedential Opinions
I.O.P. 5.4	Listing of Counsel and Judge
I.O.P. 5.5	Preparation and Circulation of Opinions
I.O.P. 5.6	Filing of Opinions
I.O.P. 5.7	Citations

I.O.P. Chapter 6. Judgment Orders 4

Rule	Title
I.O.P. 6.1	Panel Unanimity
I.O.P. 6.2	Criteria
I.O.P. 6.3	Form of Order
I.O.P. 6.4	Procedure

I.O.P. Chapter 7. Orders Reversing or Remanding 3

Rule	Title
I.O.P. 7.1	Retention of Jurisdiction
I.O.P. 7.2	Assignment Following Remand
I.O.P. 7.3	Reversal or Remand

I.O.P. Chapter 8. Panel Rehearing 3

Rule	Title
I.O.P. 8.1	Petition
I.O.P. 8.2	Request for Answer
I.O.P. 8.3	Disposition

I.O.P. Chapter 9. En Banc Consideration 6

Rule	Title
I.O.P. 9.1	Policy of Avoiding Intra-circuit Conflict of Precedent
I.O.P. 9.2	Hearing En banc
I.O.P. 9.3	Criteria for Rehearing En banc
I.O.P. 9.4	Court Originated Rehearing En banc
I.O.P. 9.5	Rehearing En banc on Petition by Party
I.O.P. 9.6	Procedure

I.O.P. Chapter 10. Motion Practice 9

Rule	Title
I.O.P. 10.1	Motion Panels
I.O.P. 10.2	Distribution
I.O.P. 10.3	Procedure
I.O.P. 10.4	Motions Referred to Clerk
I.O.P. 10.5	Single Judge Motions
I.O.P. 10.6	Summary Action
I.O.P. 10.7	Motions Related to Cases Assigned to Merits Panels
I.O.P. 10.8	Post-Decision Motions
I.O.P. 10.9	Certification of Questions of State Law

I.O.P. Chapter 11. Recusal or Disqualification of Judges 2

Rule	Title
I.O.P. 11.1	Procedure
I.O.P. 11.2	Circumstances

I.O.P. Chapter 12. Procedures When Judges Become Unavailable 1

Rule	Title
I.O.P. 12	Procedures When Judges Become Unavailable

I.O.P. Chapter 13. Visiting Judges 1

Rule	Title
I.O.P. 13	Visiting Judges

I.O.P. Chapter 14. Staff Attorneys 1

Rule	Title
I.O.P. 14	Staff Attorneys

I.O.P. Chapter 15. Senior Judge Law Clerk Volunteers 1

Rule	Title
I.O.P. 15	Senior Judge Law Clerk Volunteers

I.O.P. Chapter 16. Death Penalty Cases 5

Rule	Title
I.O.P. 16.1	Docketing and Briefing
I.O.P. 16.2	Panel Assignments
I.O.P. 16.3	Stays, Tentative Assignments
I.O.P. 16.4	Hearings or Rehearing En banc
I.O.P. 16.5	Notice to Supreme Court

I.O.P. Chapter 17. Sample Forms 4

Rule	Title
I.O.P. 17.1	Judgment Order in Civil Cases
I.O.P. 17.2	Judgment Order in Criminal Cases
I.O.P. 17.3	Dismissal for Lack of Jurisdiction
I.O.P. 17.4	Dismissal for Lack of Certification Under Fed.R.Civ.P. 54(b)

District Courts in the 3rd Circuit 6

District of Delaware Wilmington, Delaware District of New Jersey Newark, New Jersey Eastern District of Pennsylvania Philadelphia, Pennsylvania Middle District of Pennsylvania Scranton, Pennsylvania Western District of Pennsylvania Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania District of the Virgin Islands St. Thomas, Virgin Islands