UNITED STATES COURT OF APPEALS

FOR THE

FEDERAL CIRCUIT

INTERNAL OPERATING PROCEDURES

Incorporating all procedures as adopted and amended as of July 22, 2022.
TABLE OF CONTENTS

IOP # SUBJECT PAGE

1 INTERNAL OPERATING PROCEDURES (IOPs) AND 

DEFINITIONS

1

2 MOTION AND PETITION PRACTICE 3

3 MERITS PANELS – DISTRIBUTION OF BRIEFS, RECORDS, AND 

FILES

7

4 BRIEFS, APPENDICES, AND HEARINGS IN CASES INVOLVING 

PROTECTIVE ORDER

9

5 RECUSAL 10

6 VISITING JUDGES 11

7 ORAL ARGUMENT 12

8 PANEL CONFERENCE – AUTHORING ASSIGNMENT 13

9 DISPOSITION OF CASES – OPINIONS AND ORDERS – VACATE,

REVERSE, REMAND – COSTS

14

10 PRECEDENTIAL / NONPRECEDENTIAL OPINIONS AND 

ORDERS

17

11 UNIFORMITY OF CITATION 20

12 PETITIONS FOR PANEL REHEARING 22

13 BASES FOR HEARING EN BANC OR REHEARING EN BANC 25

14 HEARING AND REHEARING EN BANC – DISSOLUTION OF EN 

BANC

26

15 REMAND FROM THE SUPREME COURT 39

The date listed for each Internal Operating Procedure is the date the Internal Operating Procedure was last 

amended.
NOTICE

Because the Internal Operating Procedures (IOPs) govern internal court procedures, they are not 

intended to replace or supplement the Federal Rules of Appellate Procedure or the Federal Circuit 

Rules, which govern procedures in appeals. Counsel should not cite the IOPs in appeal filings or 

rely on them to avoid controlling statutes or rules. 
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IOP #1

1 

Date: November 14, 2008

Subject: INTERNAL OPERATING PROCEDURES (IOPs) AND DEFINITIONS

1. IOPs.

These “Internal Operating Procedures” (IOPs) cover the essential processes of this 

court. The court reserves the right to depart from a provision in the IOPs when 

circumstances require.

2. Definitions.

• “Session” – The sitting of a panel to hear a series of calendared cases over 

a set period of days.

• “Court Session” – The period of days in which one or more panels is 

sitting.

• “Presiding Judge” – The senior active judge sitting with a merits panel.

• “Lead Judge” – The motions panel member designated to receive and 

initially consider motions and their disposition.

• “Submission” – Occurs immediately after hearing, or on the date a case is 

submitted on the briefs.

• “Issuance” – Occurs when the clerk makes an opinion or order available to 

the parties, public, and subscribers.

• “Disposition Sheets” – Issued by the clerk, as required, to reflect daily and 

weekly dispositions.

• “Motions Panel” – Three judges assigned on a rotating basis to review 

motions received during a prescribed month. 

• “Merits Panel” – Three or more judges assigned to consider the briefs, hear 

oral argument, if any, decide the case, and render an appropriate opinion or 

opinions. Where appropriate, “merits panel” may be read as including “the 

court en banc.” 
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IOP #1

2

• “Quorum” – In determining whether a quorum exists for en banc purposes, 

more than half of all circuit judges in regular active service, including 

recused or disqualified judges, must be eligible to participate in the en banc 

process
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IOP #2

3 

Date: November 14, 2008

Subject: MOTION AND PETITION PRACTICE

1. Motions. 

Each month, the chief judge appoints a three-judge motions panel and designates a 

lead judge. 

2. Clerk.

 (a) Before the appeal has been calendared, the clerk may grant a 

motion during that period and specified in Fed. Cir. R. 27(h) which contains a 

representation that the motion has the consent of the parties. 

(b) After the appeal has been calendared, the clerk shall refer all 

motions specified in Fed. Cir. R. 27(h) to all members of the merits panel.

(c) Notwithstanding representations of consent, the clerk may decline 

to grant a motion if its allowance would be a substantial divergence from routine 

practice before the court. The clerk shall refer such a motion to the senior staff 

attorney (SSA) if the appeal has not been calendared and to the merits panel if the 

case has been calendared.

3. Senior Staff Attorney.

All precalendar motions requiring action by a judge or judges of the motions panel 

will be delivered by the clerk to the SSA, who shall be responsible for assisting the 

motions panel in the processing of such motions. 

4. Prepaneling Motions. 

The clerk transmits to the SSA a motion or response filed before the case is 

assigned to a merits panel. In appropriate cases, a motion filed after the principal briefs 

have been filed may be deferred under the clerk’s signature for consideration by the merits 

panel and delivered with the briefs and materials in the case. When a motion is under 

consideration by a motions panel and has not been referred to a merits panel, the lead 

judge may direct that all papers subsequently filed in relation to that motion will be acted 

upon by that motions panel. When a motion relates to an appeal that previously was heard 

by a merits panel and the merits panel remanded the case, the SSA may refer the motion to 
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IOP #2

4

that merits panel. If that previous merits panel is not available, the SSA may refer the 

motion to the remaining judge or judges of that panel and one or two newly selected 

judges.

(a) Non-Emergency Motions.

(i) When it is not necessary that a motion be granted or denied before 

the case can be expected to be assigned to a merits panel, the 

motion may be deferred for consideration by a merits panel. 

Though a merits panel need not exist at time of deferral, care 

should be exercised to avoid both undue delay in disposing of the 

motion and unnecessary preparation and filing of briefs and 

appendices resulting from early deferral of a potentially dispositive 

motion.

(ii) The SSA notifies the clerk of deferral to a merits panel and returns 

the motions papers to the clerk. The clerk includes a copy of the 

motions papers with the briefs and materials when they are 

transmitted to each judge on a merits panel. The motion then will 

be considered and decided as part of the determination of the merits 

of the case. 

(b) Emergency Motions.

The SSA presents emergency motions promptly to the lead judge, who then 

elects to decide the motion alone or to obtain a decision by the motions panel.

(c) Dispositive Motions.

Orders disposing of an appeal or a petition (dismissal, summary 

affirmance, mandamus, etc.) must be acted upon by the full motions panel.

(d) Orders.

Orders on motions may be signed by a judge or the clerk. Fed. Cir. R. 

45(c). 
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IOP #2

5

5. Oral Argument.

(a) Oral argument ordinarily will not be granted on prepaneling motions. 

Nonetheless, a motions panel may elect: 

(i) To hear oral argument when deemed necessary and the nature of 

the case so warrants; 

(ii) To hear oral argument after expiration of its term of service when it 

has devoted sufficient judge time to make consideration of the 

motion by a merits panel or other judges an unnecessary 

duplication; or 

(iii) To be reconstituted as a merits panel for consideration of the 

motion as part of its determination of the case. The chief judge will 

be notified when (i), (ii), or (iii) is elected.

(b) A merits panel may permit oral argument directed to a deferred motion as 

part of argument on the merits, instructing the clerk to notify counsel whether 

additional time will be granted for that purpose and the amount of that time.

6. Postpaneling, Presubmission Motions.

(a) Motions filed after the briefs and materials have been delivered to a merits 

panel, but before the case is under submission, will be referred by the clerk to the 

merits panel, which will decide the motion either before submission or as part of 

its determination of the whole case after submission.

(b) The action chambers on a post-calendar motion shall be that of the judge 

who has been assigned the responsibility of authoring, or who has authored the 

opinion. If a post-calendar motion requires action before hearing, the presiding 

judge of the merits panel will preassign the opinion-authoring responsibility, 

subject to reassignment after the hearing if necessary. The authoring judge will 

decide whether to act alone on a motion or to obtain the views of the other merits 

panel members (in conference or by vote sheet).

(c) To avoid premature disclosure of the merits panel membership, orders 

issued by a merits panel ordinarily will be signed by the clerk.
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IOP #2

6

7. Postsubmission Motions.

All postsubmission motions are referred to the members of the merits panel, and 

shall not ordinarily be argued. The action chambers shall be that of the authoring judge. 

8. Reconsideration.

A motion for reconsideration of a decision on a motion is referred to the members 

of the motions panel or merits panel that decided the motion.

9. Petitions for Writs of Mandamus.

Petitions for writs of mandamus will be processed in the manner set forth above 

with respect to motions.

10. Precedential Orders Disposing of Motions.

Orders disposing of motions may be made precedential when deemed advisable by 

the motions panel or merits panel applying the criteria of IOP #10.

11. A motions panel that grants a motion to expedite an appeal may decide, by 

majority vote, to sit as the merits panel. The chief judge shall be notified if a motions 

panel reconstitutes itself as a merits panel.
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IOP #3

7 

Date: November 14, 2008

Subject: MERITS PANELS – DISTRIBUTION OF BRIEFS, RECORDS, AND FILES

1. The chief judge provides to the clerk’s office a list of judges that are available for 

each day of an argument session. The clerk’s office runs a computer program that 

randomly generates three-judge panels for each month, subject to the judges’ availability. 

The clerk’s office screens cases to determine if they are calendar-ready, i.e., if all 

briefs and the joint appendix have been filed. A computer program merges the list of 

calendar-ready cases in order of filing with panels of judges determined randomly, subject 

to the requirements of 28 U.S.C. 46(b) and Fed. Cir. R. 47.2(b) (“Assignment of cases to 

panels will be made so as to provide each judge with a representative cross-section of the 

fields of law within the jurisdiction of the court.”). Cases are generally scheduled for a 

calendar approximately six weeks after the last brief and the appendix are filed. 

A case that is remanded by the Supreme Court is referred to the panel or to the en 

banc court that previously decided the matter, subject to the circumstances provided by 

IOP # 15, paragraph 2(a). When an appeal is docketed in a case that was previously 

remanded by this court, or when an appeal concerning attorney fees is docketed after any 

appeal on the underlying merits is decided, the clerk’s office attempts to assign the appeal 

to the previous panel, to a panel including at least two members of the previous panel (if 

one of those members was the authoring judge), or to a panel that contains the authoring 

judge, if such a panel is otherwise constituted and available on a subsequent argument 

calendar. 

A motions panel that decides to expedite an appeal may decide to reconstitute itself 

as the merits panel. See IOP # 2, paragraph 11. A recusal of a judge may require 

revisions to the composition of a merits panel. See Fed. Cir. R. 47.11; IOP # 5, paragraph 

3. Othercircumstances may arise that require substitution of a judge or constitution of a 

panel in a manner not otherwise provided above. 

2. Briefs, records, and other case related materials are distributed to the merits panel 

as early as possible before the hearing date. 

3. The court’s policy is that briefs will be read by the judges of the panel before oral 

argument.
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IOP #3

8 

4. When the appeal is terminated and the mandate has issued, such briefs and 

materials as are not retained in chambers will be placed in wastebaskets in chambers for 

discard.

5. Briefs and other materials marked UConfidentialU or UProtected MaterialsU and no 

longer needed in chambers, will be returned to the clerk for supervised destruction after 

the mandate has issued
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IOP #4

9 

Date: November 14, 2008

Subject: BRIEFS, APPENDICES, AND HEARINGS IN CASES INVOLVING 

PROTECTIVE ORDER 

1. All materials (e.g., briefs, appendices, motions, parts of the record) that are subject 

to a protective order (see Fed. Cir. R. 11 and 17) shall on receipt be supplied with a large 

sticker stamped “Confidential” and placed on the front and back of the materials. 

Protected materials shall be disposed of upon completion of the case according to 

procedures established by the clerk.

2. The senior staff attorney and senior technical assistant shall endeavor to limit 

circulation of protected materials on an as-needed basis. 

3. The clerk shall designate persons on his or her staff authorized to process protected 

materials.

4. Protected materials in the clerk’s office shall be stored in a secure area.

5. After the case is closed, the clerk will return any original protected materials to the 

trial tribunal, and will destroy extra copies not required for permanent files of the court.

6. A case involving protected materials may be heard in camera, on motion or on sua 

sponte order of the court.

7. Oral argument in camera ordinarily shall be scheduled in a regular courtroom as 

the last case of a session. Before calling the case, the presiding judge shall order the 

courtroom cleared of all unauthorized persons. Counsel are solely responsible for persons 

seated at counsel table. Court employees authorized access to the protective materials, 

and whose duties require attendance, may remain during the hearing.

8. Electronic recordings of in camera hearings shall be considered and treated as 

protected materials.

9. Public or press inquiries about protected materials or in camera hearings will be 

referred to the clerk. 

10. All court personnel shall be sensitive to the confidential nature of protected 

material.
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IOP #5

10 

Date: November 14, 2008

Subject: RECUSAL

1. Judges will consult the certificate of interest (Fed. Cir. R. 47.4) in determining 

whether a basis for recusal exists. 

2. Alternatively, a judge may supply the clerk with a written list of circumstances 

which would require the judge’s recusal, including, e.g., names of businesses or 

corporations in which the judge or family members have a financial interest, and names of 

lawyers or law firms whose appearance or participation as counsel would require the 

judge’s recusal. The clerk will compare the list supplied by a judge with the certificates of 

interest and names of counsel filed in cases calendared for hearing by a panel on which the 

judge sits, and will notify the judge of any potential basis for recusal. 

3. A judge who finds recusal necessary or advisable will, as early as possible, notify 

the other members of the panel and the chief judge. In preargument/presubmission cases, 

the chief judge will name a substitute to serve as though originally a member of the panel. 

When a recusal occurs after a case is argued or submitted, the procedures of Fed. Cir. R. 

47.11 will be followed. 
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IOP #6

11 

Date: November 14, 2008

Subject: VISITING JUDGES

1. Visiting judges provide a welcome aid in the work of the court. Their favorable 

impression is carried throughout the nation. Their contribution of varied viewpoints, 

experiences, ideas, and information from throughout the judicial system is invaluable.

2. Presiding judges will, at the beginning of each court session in which a visiting 

judge sits, introduce the visiting judge and express the court’s appreciation for his or her 

assistance to the court. 

3. While serving with the court, a visiting judge shall be considered and treated in the 

manner applicable to a member of the court. 

4. Presiding judges will determine the appropriate seating at the bench in each 

session. Visiting chief judges will normally be seated at the right of the presiding judge, 

visiting senior judges normally at the left. 

5. Presiding judges are responsible for follow-up in relation to votes and opinions due 

from visiting judges.
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IOP #7

12 

Date: November 14, 2008

Subject: ORAL ARGUMENT

1. It is the court’s policy that 15 minutes per side be the normal time allocation, and 

that 30 minutes per side be normally the maximum time allocation. A judge in 

disagreement with the normal time allocation will so state to the presiding judge. In a case 

that initially has been designated for no oral argument, oral argument will be held on 

request of one member of a panel. The presiding judge will notify the clerk of any 

change in the time allocation, not later than seven days prior to the date of argument, to 

enable the clerk to notify counsel well before the first day of the panel session. 

2. Consistent with Fed. R. App. P. 34 and Fed. Cir. R. 34, it is the court’s policy to 

allow oral argument unless:

(a) The appeal is frivolous; or

(b) The dispositive issue or set of issues recently has been authoritatively 

decided; or

(c) The facts and legal arguments are presented adequately in the briefs and 

record, and the decisional process would not be aided significantly by oral 

argument.
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IOP #8

13 

Date: November 14, 2008

Subject: PANEL CONFERENCE – AUTHORING ASSIGNMENT

1. After a case has been argued, the merits panel will hold at least one conference and 

will at that conference exchange tentative views and votes. The judges announce a 

“straw” vote, in reverse order of seniority, on the decision in each case and on whether to 

employ a precedential opinion, a nonprecedential opinion, or a judgment of affirmance 

without opinion under Rule 36.

2. The presiding judge assigns the authoring responsibility for each case at the end of 

each day’s sitting or at the end of a session. If the panel is divided, the authoring role is 

assigned to a member of the majority. If the presiding judge dissents, assignment will be 

made by the senior active member of the majority.

3. Panel members desiring to change authoring assignments shall refer the matter to 

the presiding judge for decision. The presiding judge will notify the chief judge of any 

change. 

4. A merits panel may follow these procedures for cases submitted on the briefs. 

Alternatively, the panel may conclude that the case is appropriate for a Rule 36 judgment 

or the presiding judge may preassign the authoring responsibility to a panel member 

before the panel conference. Under the alternative procedure, a Rule 36 judgment or an 

opinion may be voted on before the panel conference and may be ready to be issued 

promptly following the panel conference. 
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IOP #9

14 

Date: September 21, 2011

Subject: DISPOSITION OF CASES – OPINIONS AND ORDERS – VACATE,

REVERSE, REMAND – COSTS

1. The court employs only the following means in disposing of matters before it for 

decision: precedential opinions; nonprecedential opinions; precedential orders; 

nonprecedential orders; and Rule 36 judgments of affirmance without opinion.

2. The court’s decisions on the merits of all cases submitted after oral argument or on 

the briefs, other than those disposed of under Rule 36, shall be explained in an 

accompanying precedential or nonprecedential opinion.

3. The court’s decisions on motions, petitions, and applications will be by 

precedential or nonprecedential orders.

4. The court’s policy is that all opinions and orders shall be as short and as limited to 

the dispositive issue as the nature of the cases or motions will allow.

5. At the election of the authoring judge, a unanimous or majority opinion, 

precedential or nonprecedential, may be headed “PER CURIAM.” Rule 36 judgments 

shall be “PER CURIAM.” 

6. Copies of all issued opinions and precedential orders shall be provided when 

issued to all judges of the court, to other participating judges, to the parties involved, and 

to the tribunal from which the appeal was taken, or which is affected by the order. Copies 

of Rule 36 judgments signed by the clerk will be provided by the clerk to the parties, the 

trial tribunal, and the members of the panel.

7. All Rule 36 judgments and all opinions and orders, precedential and 

nonprecedential, are public records of the court and shall be accessible to the public.

8. Nonprecedential opinions and orders and Rule 36 judgments shall not be employed 

as binding precedent by this court, except in relation to a claim of res judicata, collateral 

estoppel, or law of the case, and shall carry notice to the nonprecedential effect. 

9. The court will VACATE all or part of a judgment, order, or agency decision when 

it is being eliminated but not replaced with a contrary judgment or order of this court. 
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IOP #9

15 

The court will REVERSE all or part of a judgment, order, or agency decision when 

it is being replaced with a contrary judgment or order of this court. 

The court will REMAND only when there is something more for the trial court or 

agency to do, and will supply such guidance as the case may warrant.

10. Adoption of Opinions of Trial Tribunals.

(a) Because a UprecedentialU opinion stating that this court affirms “on the basis 

of” an opinion of a trial tribunal might cause confusion as to what constitutes 

UprecedentU in this court, that format will no longer be used in precedential opinions. 

It is not objectionable in nonprecedential opinions. Except for the provisions (b) 

and (c) below, a precedential opinion should say enough to supply, in itself 

without reference to the opinion or order being reviewed, the basis of this court’s 

decision. 

(b) If a trial tribunal’s opinion has been published, and a panel can accept all or 

a separable part thereof Uas its ownU opinion, the panel may state that it adopts the 

trial tribunal’s opinion or separable part as its own. If this has been done, the 

panel’s opinion, when circulated to the court for review, shall be accompanied by a 

copy of what has been adopted. The panel’s precedential opinion and what has 

been adopted then constitutes precedent in this court.

(c) If a trial tribunal’s opinion has not been published, and a panel accepts all 

or a separate part thereof as its own opinion in its precedential opinion, the panel 

will circulate for review and will publish the adopted opinion or separable part, as 

an appendix to or in the body of the panel’s opinion, with suitable attribution.

11. UCostsU. 

(a) When a panel affirms or reverses a judgment or order in its entirety, or 

dismisses an appeal, it need say nothing respecting costs, which will be assessed 

by the clerk automatically against the losing party. A panel that does not wish 

assessment of costs against the losing party will instruct that costs be assessed as 

the panel may deem just.
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IOP #9

16

(b) When a panel’s decision is other than a total affirmance or reversal (e.g., 

affirm in part, reverse in part, vacate, remand) the panel will include in its opinion 

or order a direction on the award of costs.

(c) When a panel’s decision is issued pursuant to Rule 36 in a matter involving 

an appeal and a cross-appeal, no costs will be assessed unless the panel so directs 

in the Rule 36 judgment.

(d) A panel’s direction respecting costs will appear as the last paragraph in this 

court’s opinion or order and will be headed “COSTS.”
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IOP #10

17 

Date: March 1, 2022

Subject: PRECEDENTIAL / NONPRECEDENTIAL OPINIONS AND ORDERS

1. The workload of the appellate courts precludes preparation of precedential 

opinions in all cases. Unnecessary precedential dispositions, with concomitant full 

opinions, only impede the rendering of decisions and the preparation of precedential 

opinions in cases which merit that effort.

2. The purpose of a precedential disposition is to inform the bar and interested 

persons UotherU than the parties. The parties can be sufficiently informed of the court’s 

reasoning in a nonprecedential opinion.

3. Disposition by nonprecedential opinion or order does not mean the case is 

considered unimportant, but only that a precedential opinion would not add significantly 

to the body of law or would otherwise fail to meet a criterion in paragraph 4. 

Nonprecedential dispositions should not unnecessarily state the facts or tell the parties 

what they argued or what they otherwise already know. It is sufficient to tell the losing 

party why its arguments were not persuasive. Nonprecedential opinions are supplied to 

the parties and made available to the public. 

4. The court’s policy is to limit precedent to dispositions meeting one or more of 

these criteria:

(a) The case is a test case.

(b) An issue of first impression is treated.

(c) A new rule of law is established.

(d) An existing rule of law is criticized, clarified, altered, or modified.

(e) An existing rule of law is applied to facts significantly different from those 

to which that rule has previously been applied. 

(f) An actual or apparent conflict in or with past holdings of this court or other 

courts is created, resolved, or continued. 

(g) A legal issue of substantial public interest, which the court has not 

sufficiently treated recently, is resolved.
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IOP #10

18

(h) A significantly new factual situation, likely to be of interest to a wide 

spectrum of persons other than the parties to a case, is set forth.

(i) A new interpretation of a Supreme Court decision, or of a statute, is set 

forth.

(j) A new constitutional or statutory issue is treated.

(k) A previously overlooked rule of law is treated.

(l) Procedural errors, or errors in the conduct of the judicial process, are 

corrected, whether by remand with instructions or otherwise.

(m) The case has been returned by the Supreme Court for disposition by action 

of this court other than ministerial obedience to directions of the Court.

(n) A panel desires to adopt as precedent in this court an opinion of a lower 

tribunal, in whole or in part.

5. When a nonprecedential opinion is approved by a majority of the panel and all 

panel votes are in, the authoring judge transmits the opinion and any concurring or 

dissenting opinions to the Clerk’s Office for issuance. When all panel votes are in on a 

precedential opinion or order, the authoring judge circulates the opinion and any 

concurring or dissenting opinions, with a transmittal sheet, to the full court. The nonpanel 

members of the court will have ten working days to review all circulated opinions and

orders. If the panel wishes to make major substantive changes to a circulated opinion, it 

shall withdraw the opinion from circulation and recirculate the altered opinion to the full 

court for a new 10-day circulation period. Nonpanel members may send comments to the 

authoring judge, to the panel, or to all judges. A nonpanel member judge in regular active 

service may submit a hold sheet pending a request for an en banc poll. Absent transmittal 

of a hold sheet or a request for an en banc poll during the circulation period, the authoring 

judge sends the opinion, and any concurring or dissenting opinions, to the Clerk’s Office

for issuance. 

6. An election to utilize a Rule 36 judgment shall be unanimous among the judges of 

a panel. An election to issue a precedential opinion shall be by a majority of the panel, 

except that, when the decision includes a dissenting opinion, the dissenting judge may 
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IOP #10

19

elect to have the entire opinion issued as precedential notwithstanding the majority’s vote. 

These election rights may be made at any time before issuance of an opinion.

7. A request of a panel member or a motion seeking reissuance of an issued opinion

or order as a precedential disposition shall only be granted by a unanimous vote of the 

judges on the merits or motions panel that decided the case or matter. If such request or 

motion be granted, the author of the opinion shall revise it appropriately.

8. Nothing herein shall be interpreted as impeding the right of any judge to write a 

separate opinion.
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IOP #11

20 

Date: September 22, 2014 

Subject: UNIFORMITY OF CITATION

1. The latest edition of the “Bluebook” (UA Uniform System of CitationU) will 

ordinarily be followed. 

2. Citation of Opinions to Official Reports.

(a) In citing opinions of this court and its predecessors, cite as found in the 

UFederal ReporterU: 

Doe v. Roe, 000 F.3d 333 (Fed. Cir. 2003). 

Roe v. Doe, 000 F.2d 222 (Fed. Cir. 1982). 

Goutos v. United States, 522 F.2d 922 (Ct. Cl. 1976).

In re Sponnoble, 405 F.2d 578 (CCPA 1969).

(b) Cite official reports of the Court of Claims only when the matter cited was 

not published in the UFederal ReporterU and cite official reports of the Court of 

Customs and Patent Appeals or the United States Patent Quarterly only when the 

matter was not published in the UFederal ReporterU: 

Jones v. United States, 107 Ct. Cl. 806 (1972).

Rogers v. Smith, 35 CCPA 47 (1960).

In re John Doe, 33 USPQ2d 336 (Fed. Cir. 1999).

(c) Cite this court’s opinions in appeals from the Court of International Trade 

and the International Trade Commission as found in the Federal Reporter; may 

also cite U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit, Int’l Trade Cases

(_____Fed. Cir. (T)_____):

United States v. Roses, Inc., 706 F.2d 1563, 1 Fed. Cir. (T) 39 (1983).

3. Cite Without Periods in CCPA (Modifies Bluebook).

4. In citing opinions of the Court of International Trade, cite as found in the UFederal 

SupplementU. Cite official reports of that court, (69 Cust. Ct. 105) or (4 CIT 110), only 

where the matter cited was not published in the UFederal SupplementU. In citing opinions of 

the Claims Court, cite as found in UClaims Court Reports (Cl. Ct.). For cases appearing in 
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IOP #11

21 

1 Cl. Ct. 1 through 1 Cl. Ct. 129, cite at the first occurrence in this court’s opinion the 

additional corresponding citation of 550 F. Supp. 669 through 555 F. Supp. 403. In citing 

opinions of the Court of Federal Claims, cite as found in the UFederal Claims ReporterU

(Fed. Cl.).

5. In government contract cases, cite published opinions of Boards of Contract 

Appeals from the publications in which they appear, e.g., UGoodyear Tire Co.U, ASBCA No. 

12345, 74-2 BC ¶54321.

6. When an opinion has been published by a trial level tribunal in a recognized 

reporter, a citation thereto will be entered in the opinion of this court disposing of the 

appeal. When a slip opinion has been issued by a trial level tribunal and is intended for 

publication in a recognized reporter, but has not appeared in such reporter when our 

opinion is ready for issuance, the date and case number of the slip opinion will be cited in 

the opinion of this court. Issuance of opinions of this court will not be delayed by an 

effort to comply with this paragraph. 

7. In citing patent and trademark opinions of other courts, cite as found in UFederal 

ReporterU or UFederal SupplementU. 

8. Opinions of the Supreme Court and of this court relating to this court’s exclusive 

jurisdiction should be cited as precedent, in preference to opinions of courts no longer 

having jurisdiction over the subject matter with which the citation is concerned. 

9. Respect for the tribunals from whose judgments and decisions appeals are taken to 

this court requires care in referring to those tribunals in our opinions. Reference should 

not be made to “the court below,” “the lower court,” “the lower tribunal,” or “the judge 

below.” Reference should be made to, e.g., “the district court,” “the trial court,” “the 

district judge,” “the trial tribunal,” or “the court.” The presiding officer in MSPB hearings 

is an “administrative judge.” 
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IOP #12

22 

Date: March 1, 2022

Subject: PETITIONS FOR PANEL REHEARING

 In accordance with Fed. R. App. P. 26(a)(1), which states that its provisions apply in 

computing any period of time specified in a local rule, one must “[e]xclude the day of the act, 

event, or default that begins the period.” Thus, for example, when a voting deadline is seven 

working days in this IOP, the day that the clerk distributes the petition is excluded from the sevenday count. 

1. Distribution of Petition.

(a) Unless a petition expressly asks for en banc action, it will be deemed to 

request only rehearing by the panel. Petitions for rehearing en banc and combined 

petitions for panel rehearing and for rehearing en banc are first processed as 

petitions under this IOP and thereafter may be processed under IOP #14.

(b) Promptly on receipt, the clerk will distribute the petition for rehearing to 

the merits panel members with a petition for panel rehearing vote sheet. The 

voting deadline will be ten working days following distribution of the petition. 

2. Voting. 

(a) Panel members who desire no action on a petition need do nothing. 

(b) If the clerk does not receive a form from a panel member by the day 

following the deadline, that panel member will be deemed to have voted to deny 

the petition.

(c) A panel member desiring action on the petition will so indicate on the 

petition for panel rehearing vote sheet and send it to the clerk. Copies of the 

marked form will be sent to the other panel members, with an attached 

memorandum of reasons if desired.

3. Orders.

(a) On the day following the deadline, if the vote of the panel is to deny the 

petition, the clerk will forthwith prepare and issue an order if en banc action is not 

requested, but if en banc action is requested, the panel order denying the petition 
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IOP #12

23

will be withheld and entered in a consolidated order disposing of the petition for 

rehearing en banc.

(b) In preparing an order granting the petition, the clerk will include the action 

specified by the panel (oral argument; additional briefing; modification of opinion; 

etc.). If oral argument is ordered, the clerk will notify the chief judge. If 

modification of the opinion is desired, the author of the original opinion will 

supply the clerk with an appropriate order.

4. Responses.

(a) When a panel wishes to grant a petition (other than to make mere language

changes without change in result) the clerk will invite a response from the nonpetitioning parties and will not issue the order granting the petition until ten 

working days following distribution of a response. The response will be 

distributed with a new petition for panel rehearing vote sheet with a voting 

deadline of ten working days following distribution of the response. During the 

period following distribution of a response, a judge may change his or her earlier 

vote to grant by distributing a memo to the other panel members and the clerk. 

Judges who have not voted, and who continue after receipt of a response to favor 

denial, need do nothing. If the invitation to respond is declined, the clerk will 

issue the order granting the petition.

(b) A judge may, before the original voting deadline, direct the clerk to request 

a response, notifying the other panel members by a copy of his or her petition for 

panel rehearing vote sheet. The original voting deadline is stayed pending receipt 

of the response. A new voting deadline, ten working days after the clerk 

distributes the response, will appear on the new petition for panel rehearing vote 

sheet accompanying the response. If the party declines to file a response, the new 

date shall be seven working days after the clerk distributes a routing slip indicating 

no response will be filed.

5. In General.

(a) When a judge votes to grant a petition “only to make language changes 

attached,” the clerk will withhold issuance of an order for seven additional 
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IOP #12

24

working days, to enable other merits panel members to review those changes. 

Absent contrary notice on a petition for panel rehearing vote sheet, the clerk will 

issue the order making the changes attached.

(b) When a panel’s action on a petition is limited to changes in the language of 

an original precedential opinion (without change in the result) but the panel deems 

the changes major substantive changes, the petition for panel rehearing vote sheet, 

any revised opinion reflecting the changes, and any accompanying order 

addressing the rehearing request will be circulated to the court under the same 

process set forth in IOP #10(5). If the original precedential opinion was 

accompanied by a concurring or dissenting opinion, the authoring judge will 

communicate those changes to the panel before circulation and the dissenting or 

concurring judge will promptly (1) notify the panel that no change will be made in 

the dissent or concurrence; or (2) communicate to the panel any changes deemed 

necessary to the original dissent or concurrence that should be circulated along 

with the revised opinion to the court.

(c) When a senior judge of this court or a visiting judge served on the panel, 

that judge will participate in consideration and disposition of a petition. The clerk 

will send two copies of the petition for panel rehearing vote sheet to a visiting 

judge who authored the panel’s original opinion.

(d) If the panel’s action on the petition involves substitution of a precedential 

for an original nonprecedential opinion, the substituted opinion will be circulated 

to the court.
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IOP #13

25 

Date: November 14, 2008

Subject: BASES FOR HEARING EN BANC OR REHEARING EN BANC

1. En banc consideration is required to overrule a prior holding of this or a 

predecessor court expressed in an opinion having precedential status. 

2. Upon the concurrence of the majority of active judges, the court will, for any 

appropriate reason, conduct an en banc hearing, rehearing, or reconsideration. Judges 

who are recused or disqualified from participating in an en banc case are not counted as 

active judges for purposes of this IOP. Among the reasons for en banc action are: 

(a) Necessity of securing or maintaining uniformity of decisions; 

(b) Involvement of a question of exceptional importance; 

(c) Necessity of overruling a prior holding of this or a predecessor court 

expressed in an opinion having precedential status; or 

(d) The initiation, continuation, or resolution of a conflict with another circuit.
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IOP #14

26 

Date: July 22, 2022

Subject: HEARING AND REHEARING EN BANC – DISSOLUTION OF EN BANC

 In accordance with Fed. R. App. P. 26(a)(1), which states that its provisions apply in 

computing any period of time specified in a local rule, one must “[e]xclude the day of the event, 

that triggers the period.” Thus, for example, when a voting deadline is seven working days in this 

IOP, the day that the clerk distributes the petition is excluded from the seven-day count.

Judges who are recused or disqualified from participating in an en banc case are not 

counted as “active” or “regular active” judges for purposes of this IOP. For example, under 

paragraph 5 governing polling, recused or disqualified judges are not counted when determining 

whether a majority has voted to defer voting pending a conference or voted to hear or rehear a 

case en banc.

1. Petitions for Hearing En Banc.

(a) The clerk shall send petitions for hearing en banc to the active judges of the 

court promptly upon filing, allowing ten working days for any judge to request a 

response. 

(b) If no judge requests a response, the clerk will enter an order for the court 

denying the petition for hearing en banc. 

(c) If a response is requested, the clerk will thereafter send the response (or a 

notice that none was filed) to the judges, allowing ten working days for any judge 

to initiate a poll in accordance with paragraph 5 of this procedure to determine 

whether the appeal or other matter should be heard en banc.

(d) If no poll is initiated, the clerk will enter an order for the court denying the 

petition for hearing en banc. 

(e) If a poll is initiated and the petition for hearing en banc is granted, a 

committee of judges selected by the chief judge, which shall normally include the 

judge who initiated the poll, shall within ten working days transmit on a vote sheet 

to the judges who will sit en banc a draft order setting forth any questions proposed 

to be addressed by the court en banc. The clerk will enter the order for the court 

granting the petition for hearing en banc and setting forth the schedule for 
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IOP #14

27

additional briefing, if any, by the parties and by amici curiae, and for oral 

argument, and any questions the court may wish the parties and amici to address.

(f) If a poll is initiated and the petition for hearing en banc is denied, and there 

are no dissenting votes or a judge votes to dissent without opinion, the clerk will 

enter an order for the court:

(i) Advising that a poll was conducted, and

(ii) Denying the petition for hearing en banc, noting thereon any 

dissenting votes that may have been directed. 

If a judge indicates on an en banc poll sheet that he or she intends to file a 

separate opinion regarding the denial of an en banc action, then within six working 

days after the poll deadline ends, the judge will transmit his or her opinion to the 

other judges. No later than three working days from the end of that six-day period, 

if a separate opinion is transmitted, any other judge may transmit a separate 

opinion. Six working days after that three-day period, an order of the court and 

any separate opinions will be transmitted for issuance. The clerk will enter an 

order for the court:

(i) Advising that a poll was conducted,

(ii) Denying the petition for hearing en banc, and

(iii) Attaching the opinion(s). 

If no opinion is transmitted within six working days after the poll deadline 

ends, then the clerk, unless otherwise ordered by the chief judge, will enter an 

order for the court:

(i) Advising that a poll was conducted,

(ii) Denying the petition for hearing en banc, and

(iii) Advising that an opinion will follow.

2. Petitions for Rehearing En Banc.

(a) Action on a petition for rehearing en banc that is part of a combined 

petition for panel rehearing and rehearing en banc will be deferred until the panel 
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IOP #14

28

has acted on the petition for rehearing. A petition for rehearing en banc that is not 

combined with a petition for panel rehearing will be presumed to request relief that 

can be granted by the panel that heard the appeal; consequently, the clerk will send 

the petition for rehearing en banc promptly upon filing first to the panel in 

accordance with IOP #12, paragraph 1(b), and action on the petition for rehearing 

en banc will be deferred until the panel has had the opportunity to grant the relief 

requested. If the panel either takes no action or grants less than all of the relief 

requested, the clerk shall send both the combined petition and any response 

considered by the panel to the active judges of the court and to any judge who was 

a member of the panel that heard the appeal or other matter but is not an active 

judge of the court, allowing ten working days for any of these judges to request a 

response to the petition for rehearing en banc. If the panel affirmatively determines 

to take no action on the petition before the review period has expired, the panel is 

encouraged to notify the clerk that the petition may be sent to the full court for its 

review without waiting for the ten working days to pass.

(b) If no judge requests a response, the clerk will enter an order for the court 

denying the petition for rehearing en banc.

(c) When a response is requested and filed or the time for filing the requested 

response has passed without one having been filed, the clerk will send the response 

or a notice that none was filed to the judges, allowing ten working days for any 

active or panel judge to initiate a poll in accordance with paragraph 5 of this IOP 

to determine whether the appeal or other matter should be reheard en banc.

(d) If no judge initiates a poll, the clerk will enter an order for the court 

denying the petition for rehearing en banc.

(e) If at any time before a majority of the active judges who are eligible to 

participate vote to grant a petition for rehearing en banc, a majority of the panel

wishes to make major substantive changes to an issued decision or otherwise give 

further consideration to a petition, the panel shall inform the en banc court that the 

panel wishes to take the petition back for further action. Upon such notice, any 

pending poll will be withdrawn. The panel shall expeditiously inform the full 

court of any such action on the petition, and if the panel grants less than all of the 
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IOP #14

29

relief requested, any judge may request a response to the petition for rehearing en 

banc or a poll within 10 business days of the panel’s notification to the full court.

(f) If a poll is initiated and the petition for rehearing en banc is granted, a 

committee of judges appointed by the chief judge, which normally will include the 

judge who initiated the poll, shall within ten working days transmit on a vote sheet 

to the judges who will sit en banc an order setting forth the questions proposed to 

be addressed by the court en banc. The clerk will enter the order for the court 

granting the petition for rehearing en banc and setting forth the schedule for 

additional briefing by the parties and by amici curiae and for additional oral 

argument, if any, and any questions the court may wish the parties and amici to 

address. Notice shall be given that the court en banc shall consist of all circuit 

judges in regular active service who are not recused or disqualified and any senior 

circuit judge of the court who participated in the decision of the panel and elects to 

sit, in accordance with the provisions of 28 U.S.C. § 46(c).

(g) If a poll is initiated and the petition for rehearing en banc is denied, and 

there are no dissenting votes or a judge votes to dissent without opinion, the clerk 

will enter an order for the court:

(i) Advising that a poll was conducted, and

(ii) Denying the petition for rehearing en banc, noting thereon any 

dissenting votes that may have been directed.

If a judge indicates on an en banc poll sheet that he or she intends to file a 

separate opinion regarding the denial of an en banc action, then within six working 

days after the poll deadline ends, the judge will transmit his or her opinion to the 

other judges. No later than three working days from the end of that six-day period, 

if a separate opinion is transmitted, any other judge may transmit a separate 

opinion. Six working days after that three-day period, an order of the court and 

any separate opinions will be transmitted for issuance. The clerk will enter an 

order for the court:

(i) Advising that a poll was conducted,

(ii) Denying the petition for rehearing en banc, and
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IOP #14

30

(iii) Attaching the opinion(s). 

If no opinion is transmitted within six working days after the poll deadline 

ends, then the clerk, unless otherwise ordered by the chief judge, will enter an 

order for the court:

(i) Advising that a poll was conducted,

(ii) Denying the petition for rehearing en banc, and

(iii) Advising that an opinion will follow.

3. Sua Sponte Requests for Hearing En Banc.

Hearing en banc following hearing by a panel of judges, but before the 

entry of judgment and opinion(s) by the panel, may be ordered sua sponte.

(a) During the circulation period to the court before precedential opinions are 

issued, any active judge may initiate a poll in accordance with paragraph 5 of this 

IOP. The request for a poll should ordinarily be accompanied by a memorandum 

of reasons supporting the sua sponte request for hearing en banc or adopting the 

dissenting or concurring opinion of a judge on the panel.

(b) During the time for polling or awaiting a conference, the panel judgment 

and opinion(s) shall automatically be withheld for filing.

(c) If the sua sponte request for hearing en banc is granted, a committee of 

judges appointed by the chief judge, which normally shall include the judge who 

initiated the poll, shall within ten working days transmit on a vote sheet to the 

judges who will sit en banc an order setting forth the questions proposed to be 

addressed by the court en banc. The clerk shall provide notice that a majority of 

the judges in regular service has acted under 28 U.S.C. § 46 and Fed. R. App. P. 

35(a) to order the appeal to be heard en banc, and indicate any questions the court 

may wish the parties and amici to address. Notice shall be given that the court en 

banc shall consist of all circuit judges in regular active service who are not recused 

or disqualified. Additional briefing and oral argument will be ordered as 

appropriate. If the sua sponte request for hearing en banc is not granted, no order 
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IOP #14

31

will issue on the sua sponte request and the panel’s opinion may be issued in due 

course.

4. Sua Sponte Requests for Rehearing En Banc.

Rehearing en banc following issuance of a precedential opinion may be 

ordered sua sponte in the absence of a petition for rehearing en banc filed by a 

party.

(a) When no petition for rehearing en banc has been filed in an appeal that has 

been decided in a precedential opinion, within four working days after the time 

allowed by the rules for filing a petition for panel rehearing any active judge may 

initiate a poll in accordance with paragraph 5 of this IOP. The request for a poll 

ordinarily should be accompanied by a memorandum of reasons supporting the sua 

sponte request for rehearing en banc or adopting the dissenting or concurring 

opinion of a judge on the panel. The mandate shall not issue until after the sua 

sponte request is denied or until after any en banc action is completed.

(b) If the sua sponte request for rehearing en banc is granted, a committee of 

judges appointed by the chief judge, which normally shall include the judge who 

initiated the poll, shall within ten working days transmit on a vote sheet to the 

judges who will sit en banc an order setting forth the questions proposed to be 

addressed by the court en banc. The clerk shall provide notice that a majority of 

the judges in regular active service has acted under 28 U.S.C. § 46(c) and Fed. R. 

App. P. 35(a) to order the appeal to be heard en banc, enter an order for the court 

vacating the judgment and withdrawing the opinion(s) filed by the panel that heard 

the appeal, and indicate any questions the court may wish the parties and amici to 

address. Notice shall be given that the en banc panel shall include all circuit judges 

in regular active service who are not recused or disqualified and any senior circuit 

judge of the circuit who participated in the decision of the panel and elects to sit, in 

accordance with the provisions of 28 U.S.C. § 46(c). Additional briefing and oral 

argument will be ordered as appropriate.

(c) If a sua sponte request for rehearing en banc is denied, and there are no 

dissenting votes or a judge votes to dissent without opinion, the clerk will enter an 
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IOP #14

32

order for the court advising that a poll of judges in regular active service whether 

to rehear the appeal was conducted at the request of an active judge, but failed of a 

majority, noting thereon any dissenting votes that may have been directed. If a 

judge indicates on an en banc poll sheet that he or she intends to file a separate 

opinion regarding the denial of an en banc action, then within six working days 

after the poll deadline ends, the judge will transmit his or her opinion to the other 

judges. No later than three working days from the end of that six-day period, if a 

separate opinion is transmitted, any other judge may transmit a separate opinion. 

Six working days after that three-day period, an order of the court and any separate 

opinions will be transmitted for issuance. The clerk will enter an order for the 

court:

(i) Advising that a poll was conducted,

(ii) Denying the request for rehearing en banc, and

(iii) Attaching the opinion(s). 

If no opinion is transmitted within six working days after the poll deadline 

ends, then the clerk, unless otherwise ordered by the chief judge, will enter an 

order for the court:

(i) Advising that a poll was conducted,

(ii) Denying the request for rehearing en banc, and

(iii) Advising that an opinion will follow.

5. Poll.

(a) A poll is initiated by a judge or a panel of judges requesting the chief judge 

to poll the active judges on a petition for hearing or rehearing en banc of a party or 

sua sponte. When a poll is requested, the chief judge shall distribute an en banc 

ballot containing these choices:

(i) To deny en banc review.

(ii) To hear or rehear the appeal en banc.

(iii) To defer voting pending a conference of the judges. 
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33

For sua sponte suggestions, the chief judge also will distribute any 

memoranda accompanying a judge’s request for a poll. Copies of the certificates of 

interest filed in the matter shall accompany the distribution if they have not 

previously been circulated with the en banc suggestion of a party. 

If the chief judge fails to distribute the ballots within six working days 

following the request for a poll, the requesting judge may conduct the poll.

(b) The judges will adhere strictly to the period for polling. The voting period 

will begin on the third working day following the date of distribution of the ballot. 

The polling shall end at 5:30 p.m. on the tenth working day following the date of 

distribution of the ballot, and ballots received in the office of the chief judge 

thereafter shall not be counted.

(c) The poll results shall be tallied and announced. When the time for balloting 

closes, the chief judge shall promptly tally the ballots and notify the court of the 

results of the poll. If a majority either votes against en banc review or fails to vote, 

the poll fails and the petition, if any, is denied. If a majority votes to hear or rehear 

the appeal en banc, the poll passes and the petition, if any, is granted. If a majority 

votes to defer voting pending a conference of judges, the chief judge shall schedule 

a conference. If less than a majority vote to hear or rehear the appeal en banc or to 

defer voting pending a conference, but together those votes constitute a majority, 

the chief judge shall schedule a conference. A judge voting for or against en banc 

hearing or rehearing may indicate that the vote also shall be counted in the event a 

postconference poll is conducted.

(d) A postconference poll may be conducted. If a conference is called, and a 

poll is not conducted at the conference, promptly following the conference the 

chief judge shall distribute a ballot containing these choices:

(i) To deny en banc review.

(ii) To hear or rehear the appeal en banc. 

If the chief judge fails to distribute the ballots within four working days 

following the conference, the requesting judge may conduct the poll.
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IOP #14

34

(e) The judges will adhere strictly to the period for postconference polling. 

The postconference polling shall end at 5:30 p.m. on the fourth working day 

following the date of distribution of the ballot, and ballots received in the office of 

the chief judge thereafter shall not be counted.

(f) The postconference poll results shall be tallied and announced. When the 

time for balloting closes, the chief judge shall promptly tally the ballots (including 

those votes to be carried over from the preconference poll) and notify the court of 

the results of the post-conference poll. If a majority votes to hear or rehear the 

appeal en banc, the postconference poll passes and the petition, if any, is granted; 

otherwise, the poll fails and the petition, if any, is denied.

(g) Multiple polls will not be taken. The initiation of a poll by a judge or 

judges terminates the period for requesting a poll. Thereafter, other judges may 

circulate memoranda supporting or opposing en banc hearing or rehearing during 

the balloting period.

6. Extension of Six Working Days Upon Request.

A judge entitled to request or to participate in an en banc or dissolution poll 

may extend any time set forth in this procedure, except for the deadline in 

paragraph 4(a) of this procedure, by six working days upon sending a notice to the 

chief judge received before 5:30 p.m. on the final day for action, with copies to 

other participating judges. The notice extends that time for all judges. Only one 

such extension is permitted for any period of action.

7. Composition of En Banc Court.

In any case in which en banc hearing or rehearing is granted, and subject to 

any recusal or disqualification, pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 46(c) the en banc court 

shall consist of all active judges, except that a senior judge shall be eligible to 

participate as a member of an en banc court reviewing a decision of a panel of 

which that judge was a member. Additionally, pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 46(c) a 

senior judge may continue to participate in the decision of a case that was heard or 

reheard by the court en banc at the time when that judge was in regular active 

service. Any new judge joining the court after a case is heard or reheard en banc, 
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IOP #14

35

but before issuance of the en banc decision, shall be eligible to participate in the 

decision as a member of the en banc court. A judge joining the court after a case is 

heard or reheard en banc but before issuance of the en banc decision shall 

promptly inform the members of the en banc court of his or her choice whether to 

participate in the court’s en banc decision.

8. Petitions to Hear or Rehear Motions or Other Non-Merits Matters En Banc.

A petition that a motion or other matter not involving the merits of the case 

should be determined by the court en banc will not be circulated to the judges in 

regular active service until the underlying motion or matter has been acted upon by 

a motions or merits panel, as appropriate, but if the panel grants the entire relief 

requested, the petition shall be deemed moot.

9. Sua Sponte Petitions for Dissolution of En Banc Status.

(a) Dissolution of en banc status may be ordered any time before filing or 

entry of a judgment and opinion(s) by the en banc court or, in the case of a remand 

by the Supreme Court to the en banc court, any time before filing or entry of a 

judgment and opinion(s) after remand.

(b) Any active judge who voted to grant a petition for hearing or rehearing en

banc may initiate a dissolution poll by transmitting a request for dissolution of the 

en banc poll to the chief judge. The request for a dissolution poll should ordinarily 

be accompanied by a memorandum of reasons supporting the petition for 

dissolution of en banc status.

(c) After a judge has initiated a dissolution poll, the en banc judgment and 

opinion(s) will automatically be withheld for filing or entry until the petition for 

dissolution of en banc status is granted or denied.

(d) When a poll is requested, the chief judge will distribute to all of the judges 

in regular active service a dissolution poll ballot containing these choices:

(i) To retain en banc status;

(ii) To dissolve the en banc court and refer the case to a panel; or

(iii) To defer voting pending a conference of judges. 
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IOP #14

36

If the chief judge fails to distribute the ballots within six working days 

following the request for a poll, the requesting judge may conduct the poll. Any 

judge may circulate memoranda supporting or opposing dissolution during the 

balloting period.

(e) The polling period ends at 5:30 p.m. on the tenth working day following 

the date of distribution of the ballot, and ballots received in the office of the chief 

judge after that time will not be counted.

(f) When the time for balloting closes, the chief judge will promptly tally the 

ballots and notify the court of the results of the poll. If a majority either votes 

against dissolution or fails to vote, the poll fails and the petition is denied. If a 

majority votes to dissolve, the poll passes and the petition for dissolution of en 

banc status is granted. If a majority votes to defer voting pending a conference of 

judges, the chief judge will promptly schedule a conference. If less than a majority 

vote to dissolve and less than a majority vote to defer voting pending a conference, 

but the votes to dissolve and to defer voting together constitute a majority of votes, 

the chief judge will schedule a conference.

(g) If a conference is called, and the court does not vote at the conference on 

the petition, promptly following the conference the chief judge will conduct a 

postconference poll. The chief judge will distribute a ballot containing these 

choices:

(i) To retain en banc status; or

(ii) To dissolve the en banc court and to refer the case to a panel. 

If the chief judge fails to distribute the ballots within four working days 

following the conference, the requesting judge may request the poll.

(h) A postconference polling period ends at 5:30 p.m. on the fourth working

day following the date of distribution of the ballot, and ballots received in the 

office of the chief judge after that time will not be counted.

(i) When the time for balloting closes, the chief judge will promptly tally the 

ballots and notify the court of the results of any postconference poll. If a majority 

votes to dissolve the en banc court, the postconference poll passes and the 
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IOP #14

37

petition for dissolution of en banc status is granted; otherwise the poll fails and the 

petition is denied.

(j) Multiple polls may not be requested or taken. The initiation of a dissolution 

poll by a judge terminates the period for requesting a poll.

(k) If the sua sponte petition for dissolution of en banc status is granted, the 

chief judge will distribute to all of the judges in regular active service a vote sheet 

containing these choices:

(i) To refer the case to the panel that was initially assigned to the case, 

if any (or if the original panel cannot be reconstituted, to the 

remaining judge or judges of that panel and one or two newly 

selected judges); or

(ii) To refer the case to a newly selected three-judge panel. 

The voting period will end at 5:30 p.m. on the sixth working day following 

the distribution of the vote sheet, and votes received in the office of the chief judge 

after that time will not be counted. A majority of votes received will determine the 

issue.

(l) After these procedures are completed and if the en banc court has 

determined to dissolve its en banc status, the chief judge will direct the clerk to 

issue an order giving notice thereof.

10. Recusal.

A judge wishing to recuse shall upon receiving a petition for hearing or 

rehearing en banc or upon receiving a ballot for a sua sponte en banc poll or a 

dissolution poll promptly notify the court of his or her recusal.

11. Remands to Panel.

If the en banc court returns the case to the panel to address additional 

issues, the court may enter the en banc opinion and any panel opinion 

simultaneously, or it may enter the en banc opinion separately, before the panel 

addresses the additional issues. The Clerk’s Office at that time shall enter the en 

banc opinion without a judgment, and the Office shall return the case to the panel 
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IOP #14

38

for further action. In such a situation, judgment shall be entered when the panel’s 

subsequent opinion is issued.
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IOP #15

39 

Date: July 7, 2016

Subject: REMAND FROM THE SUPREME COURT

1. In General.

A remand from the Supreme Court is referred to the panel or to the en banc 

court that decided the matter.

2. Referral.

(a) No action will be taken by the court until the clerk receives a certified copy 

of the judgment from the clerk of the Supreme Court. Upon receipt, the clerk will 

reopen the case under the original docket number and will transmit a copy of the 

Supreme Court judgment and opinion to the panel that decided the matter (or if the 

original panel cannot be reconstituted, the remaining judges of that panel and one 

or two newly selected judges) or, if the en banc court decided the matter, to the 

chief judge. For a matter transmitted to a panel, the action judge on the panel shall 

be the judge who authored the previous majority opinion; in the absence of the 

authoring judge, the action judge shall be the most senior active judge on the 

panel. If no judge from the original panel that decided the matter is available, the 

case will be referred to a newly selected three-judge panel. 

(b) In a case in which a matter is referred to the en banc court, the en banc 

court may, by a majority vote of the active judges: 

(i) Retain the case, 

(ii) Refer the case to the panel that decided the case initially (or to the 

remaining judges of that panel and one or two newly selected 

judges), or 

(iii) Refer the case to a newly selected three-judge panel.

3. Action by the Court.

The en banc court or the panel may require the parties to file statements of 

their positions regarding the action to be taken by the court on remand. The en 

banc court or the panel may require additional briefs, schedule oral argument, 
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IOP #15

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summarily dispose of the case, remand to the trial court, or take any other action 

consistent with the opinion of the Supreme Court.