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Rules of the District of Columbia Court of Appeals – 2026

The rules of the District's court of last resort — there is no intermediate court, and this is not the federal D.C. Circuit. FRAP-flavored: the notice of appeal is due 30 days after entry of the judgment and is filed with the Clerk of the SUPERIOR Court, extendable up to 30 more days for excusable neglect or good cause. The court sits in three-judge divisions unless it orders a hearing en banc, and under M.A.P. v. Ryan, 285 A.2d 310 (D.C. 1971), a division cannot overrule prior precedent — only the en banc court can. Rule 46 governs bar admission and Rule 49 the unauthorized practice of law, including pro hac vice appearance; both carry the volume's only official commentary.

Browse all 53 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.

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TITLE I. INTRODUCTION TITLE II. APPEALS FROM JUDGMENTS AND TITLE III. REVIEW OF ORDERS OF TITLE IV. EXTRAORDINARY WRITS; TITLE V. PROCEEDINGS IN FORMA PAUPERIS TITLE VI. GENERAL PROVISIONS

TITLE I. INTRODUCTION

Rule 1 Title and Scope of Rules; Definitions Rule 2 Seal Rule 2.1 Suspension of Rules

TITLE II. APPEALS FROM JUDGMENTS AND

Rule 3 Appeal as of Right — How taken Rule 4 Appeal as of Right — When taken Rule 5 Appeals by Permission Pursuant to D.C. Code § 11-721(d) Rule 6 Appeals by Application Pursuant to D.C. Code § 11-721(c) and § 17-301 Rule 7 Bond for Costs on Appeal in a Civil Case Rule 8 Stay or Injunction Pending Appeal Rule 9 Release or Detention in a Criminal Case Rule 10 The Record on Appeal Rule 11 Transmission of the Record Rule 12 Docketing the Appeal; Filing the Record; Sealing the Record Rule 13 Dismissal of Appeal Rule 14 Appeal Conferences

TITLE III. REVIEW OF ORDERS OF

Rule 15 Review of Agency Orders Rule 16 Record on Review Rule 17 Filing of the Record Rule 18 Stay Pending Review Rule 19 Conditions Pending Review Rule 20 Applicability of Other Rules

TITLE IV. EXTRAORDINARY WRITS;

Rule 21 Writs of Mandamus and Prohibition, and Other Extraordinary Writs Rule 22 Certification of Questions of Law

TITLE V. PROCEEDINGS IN FORMA PAUPERIS

Rule 24 Waiver of Fees, Costs, or Security (In Forma Pauperis)

TITLE VI. GENERAL PROVISIONS

Rule 25 Filing and Service Rule 25.1 Emergency and Expedited Cases Rule 26 Computing and Extending Time Rule 26.1 Corporate Disclosure Statement Rule 27 Motions Rule 28 Briefs Rule 29 Brief of an Amicus Curiae Rule 30 Appendix to the Briefs Rule 31 Serving and Filing Briefs Rule 32 Form of Briefs, Appendices, and Other Filings Rule 33 Calendaring of Cases Rule 34 Oral Argument Rule 36 Entry of Judgment; Notice; Opinions Rule 37 Interest on Judgment Rule 38 Sanctions Rule 39 Costs Rule 40 Division Rehearing; En Banc Determination Rule 41 Mandate: Contents; Issuance and Effective Date; Stay; Remand; Recall; and Rule 42 Appearance and Withdrawal of Attorneys; Self-representation Rule 43 Substitution of Parties Rule 44 Challenges to Statutes of the United States or the District of Columbia Rule 45 Clerk’s Duties Rule 46 Admission to the Bar Rule 46-A Admission to the Bar Based on COVID-19 Emergency Examination Waiver Rule 46-B Temporary Admission to the Bar for Military Spouse Attorneys Rule 47 Masters Rule 48 Legal Assistance by Law Students Rule 49 Unauthorized Practice of Law Rule 50 Judicial Conference of the District of Columbia