UNITED STATES COURT OF APPEALS

FOR THE FEDERAL CIRCUIT

717 MADISON PLACE, N.W.

WASHINGTON, D.C. 20439

PETER R. MARKSTEINER

CLERK OF COURT

CLERK’S OFFICE

202-275-8000

February 4, 2022

Instructions for Arguing Counsel Participating in Remote Arguments

1. Counsel Orientation and Equipment Test

The Clerk’s Office will schedule an orientation and equipment test with arguing 

counsel at least one week before the argument. Arguing counsel must 

participate in this orientation and equipment test to participate remotely in the 

scheduled argument. The Clerk’s Office has the discretion to disallow 

videoconference appearance if court staff cannot confirm ahead of time that 

counsel is sufficiently able to appear by videoconferencing. In such a situation, 

counsel will be permitted to attend by teleconference.

Counsel must participate in the orientation and equipment test from the same 

location and using the same equipment and internet connection that will be used 

on the day of argument.

2. Argument Connection Information

The Clerk’s Office will provide counsel with argument connection information 

following the orientation and equipment test. Arguing counsel are prohibited 

from distributing connection information except to necessary technical staff.

Note: If you are arguing before more than one panel, you will receive a separate 

email for each panel.

3. Confirming Contact Information and Argument Time

By the close of business the Thursday before the start of the month’s 

session, please reply to the above email confirming

• the name of arguing counsel and preferred title (e.g., Mr., Ms., Mrs.)

• a phone number to reach you, if needed, on the day of argument; and

• the amount of time you will be arguing, including any time for rebuttal, 

and the order in which you intend to argue if you are sharing time with 

co-counsel or if your case involves more than two arguing parties.
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4. Connecting to Argument

On the day of argument, please click the link provided by the Clerk’s Office to 

connect to the videoconference between 9:00 and 9:15 a.m. (Eastern). Once 

all counsel join, the courtroom deputy will take roll, confirm connections, test 

audio and video quality, confirm virtual backgrounds, and provide additional 

pre-argument instructions. The courtroom deputy will then place all counsel 

into breakout rooms until the court is ready to proceed with each case.

Argument may begin prior to 10:00 a.m. at the discretion of the panel. Each 

case will be argued one after the other with only a brief pause between cases. 

Unless otherwise noted, cases will be heard in the order listed on the court 

calendar. Counsel must remain connected to the conference until 

dismissed by the court or courtroom deputy.

5. Panel Members

The names of panel members will be posted on the Daily Schedule of the court’s 

website under the Argument menu no later than 9:00 a.m. the morning of the 

session. The courtroom deputy will also identify the names of the panel 

members during roll call, and this information will also be on the public audio 

access feed.

6. Waiting for Argument

While waiting for your case, you will be in a breakout room and unable to see or 

hear the courtroom or proceedings. Instead, you may listen to the court’s audio 

streaming to monitor the timing of your argument, available here. 

When moving to your case, the courtroom deputy will enter your breakout room, 

reconfirm your audio and video, and bring you into court. You must have all 

other audio, including the court’s argument livestream, turned off at 

that time.

7. Presenting Your Argument

Before the presiding judge calls your case, the courtroom deputy will confirm 

that all participants can see and hear each other. 

You are expected to mute your audio while not presenting argument, and the 

courtroom deputy will ensure this occurs. Please do not unmute yourself 

until directed to proceed. You will be expected to leave your video on for the 

duration of argument, unless directed otherwise.
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Note: The courtroom deputy cannot turn on your video or unmute you. If you 

receive a prompt to unmute or turn on your video, you must do so immediately.

8. Tracking Time During Your Argument

A digital timer will appear as a separate participant in the videoconference. The 

courtroom deputy will start the timer when you begin speaking (“green light”). 

If you have rebuttal time, the timer will turn yellow when you enter rebuttal. 

When your total time elapses, the timer will appear red and begin counting up.

9. Decorum During Argument

Although you are appearing remotely, the court is in session and ordinary 

rules of decorum apply, including the requirement that counsel appear 

in appropriate courtroom attire.

Counsel must present argument 

• from a location free from disruptions (i.e., a private room or office with the 

door and windows closed);

• using the court’s pre-selected virtual background, available here (see 

instructions later in this document on how to apply the background); and 

• with only counsel appearing in the video frame.

Counsel may present argument from a standing or seated position. Counsel 

may not be seated in a swivel chair or other visibly distracting chair.

10.Handling Disruptions

In the event you or a judge disconnect from the videoconference during 

your case, the courtroom deputy will announce it and pause the proceeding and 

clock. If you disconnect, try to reconnect using the previously provided link. If 

you are unable to reconnect, use the phone number provided with the connection 

link. As a last resort, the courtroom deputy will reconnect you by telephonic 

conference, and argument will continue with you participating by audio only.

In an emergency, call the Clerk’s Office at 202-275-8049. If you disconnect from 

a breakout room, you may not be admitted immediately to the videoconference 

when you rejoin. When you are re-admitted, assume you will be visible and 

audible to judges, court staff, and the public.
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During your argument, please interrupt if you lose audio from arguing counsel

or the panel. Do not interrupt if you lose another individual’s video feed. If you 

are unable to interrupt the argument, please drop from the call (which the 

courtroom deputy will see) or dial the emergency number provided above.

To minimize audio disruptions during argument, you must disable notifications 

associated with applications on your device. You must also ensure your phone is 

in silent or airplane mode.

11.Recording Prohibited

The recording, photographing, broadcasting, transmitting, or capturing of any 

audio, video, or image from any aspect of the videoconference is prohibited. 

12.Public Access to Argument

Given the extraordinary public health emergencies in the National Capital 

Region and the resulting restrictions on public access to the courthouse, the U.S. 

Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit is providing media and public access to 

the audio stream of each argument during the court's monthly sessions. 

The streaming audio feeds begin at approximately 9:30 a.m. (Eastern) each 

scheduled day of argument and are available here or the Daily Schedule on the 

court’s website. Attendees should plan to connect to the feed no later than 9:45 

a.m. since arguments may start before 10:00 a.m. Recordings of all arguments 

will be posted on the court’s website after the conclusion of arguments each day. 

There will be no video feed or recording of the argument, and only 

arguing counsel will be permitted to join the videoconference.

If you have questions before your argument, please call 202-275-8035.
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How to Connect and Participate in the Videoconference

You will need a computer with an internet connection. To minimize connection issues, you 

will be encouraged to close out of any unnecessary applications on your device, including 

email platforms. Please connect using a desktop or laptop.

1. Click the link provided in the email from the Clerk’s Office. If you get an access or 

connection error, like the image below, try using an alternative browser.

2. You should see a page that appears as below. The meeting should launch 

automatically. If it does not, click “Launch Meeting”:

3. Once connected, you will be placed in a waiting room until the courtroom deputy 

admits you. You will see a message reading “The meeting host will let you in soon.” 

Wait patiently on this screen until admitted, and do not close out of the 

window. While waiting, you can adjust your settings by clicking the link at the 

bottom, “Test Speaker and Mic.” We recommend checking your audio settings, 

video settings, and background settings.

Note: When joining, you may be prompted to enter your name. If you are, make 

sure you enter your full name in the format First M. Last. You will not be 

prompted to enter your name if you have previously selected to always enter under 

a specific name. You can check or update the name you have selected to enter 

under through Zoom’s web portal. To do so, perform the following steps:

a. Sign in to the Zoom web portal.

b. Click Profile in the left sidebar.

c. Click Edit, located to the right of your name.

d. Enter your full name and display name. The display name is what will 

appear for others when you join a meeting.

e. Scroll down and click Save.

(Reminder, you will not be admitted to the Zoom if your display name 

differs from the name you provided the court for arguing counsel)
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4. Once admitted, you will be prompted to join your audio unless you have pre-selected 

to automatically join audio by computer when joining a meeting. When prompted, 

you will see the screen below. Click “Join with Computer Audio.”
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Videoconference Features and Settings

Note: If you are not connecting via a desktop or laptop, some of the settings and 

features may appear in different locations. Please use a desktop or laptop. This page 

includes important information regarding the court’s use of videoconferencing. 

Subsequent pages include general information on how to use Zoom settings and 

features.

• REQUIRED VIDEO SETTINGS

To the extent possible (may not be possible based on webcam or computer used), 

arguing counsel must adjust the below video settings. This can be done by clicking 

the up arrow to the right of the camera button in the bottom left of the 

videoconference, then clicking Video Settings...

o Check Original ratio

o Uncheck HD

o Uncheck Mirror my video

o Uncheck Touch up my appearance

• REQUIRED VIRTUAL BACKGROUND

The court requires all participants to use a pre-selected video background, available 

here. Download the image and save it locally. To add the virtual background in the 

videoconference, do the following:

o Click the up arrow to the right of the camera button in the bottom left of the 

videoconference, then click Choose Virtual Background...

o Click the + icon on the right side of the screen, then click Add Image.

o Select the image at the file path where you saved it, then click Open.

o The image should appear in the list of virtual backgrounds and be applied 

automatically. If it did not apply automatically, click on the image.

• DISABLED VIDEOCONFERENCE FEATURES

The court has opted to disable certain features in the videoconference. You will not 

be able to do the following:

o Chat, including private chat messages

o Record or livestream the videoconference

o React or send non-verbal feedback

o Rename yourself

o Share your screen or show a whiteboard

o Enable HD video

o Use a video filter
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• Muting/Unmuting

To toggle mute/unmute, click the button on the bottom left corner.

You can also toggle mute using one of the following methods:

o Hover over your name in the Participants window and click Mute or 

Unmute. 

o In the upper right corner of your video window, click Mute or Unmute. 

o In the upper right corner of your video window, click the three dots and select 

Mute my Audio or Unmute my Audio. 

o You can key-bind mute in your settings. The default key-bind is Alt + A. 

o You can temporarily unmute by holding the spacebar.

• Turning Video On/Off

To toggle video on/off, click the button on the bottom left corner.

You can also toggle video in the upper right corner of your video window by clicking 

the three dots and selecting Stop my Video or Start my Video

• Viewing/Hiding Participants

The Participants window can be used to see a roster of all participants. To view, 

click the button in the bottom center of your screen. The number to the right of the 

icon lists the total number of participants. You can hide the Participants window 

by clicking the button again, or by clicking the down arrow on the left of the window 

and then Close. 

Unless you have Hide Non-Video Participants active, you will see all 

participants on your screen, including internal court lines. We recommend hiding 

non-video participants in order to ensure you see exactly who you need to on your 

screen and nothing superfluous. You can hide non-video participants via the 

following methods:

o Click on the three dots in the upper right corner of any participant’s window, 

then select Hide Non-video Participants. 
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o Click the up arrow to the right of the camera button in the bottom left of the 

videoconference, then Video Settings... You will see a pop-out window. 

Select the box that says Hide non-video participants. You can also 

uncheck the box here to show all participants again.

If you do not want to see your own video, you can click the three dots in the upper 

right corner of your video screen and select Hide Self View. To restore your ability 

to see yourself, click the three dots and then Show Self View.

• Viewing All Participants for Argument

The videoconference will display all participants, and you can see them using either 

Speaker View or Gallery View. The court does not have a requirement or 

preference for how you choose to view participants, so choose what works best for 

you. Gallery view shows all participants in the videoconference in equal-sized 

windows. Speaker view shows the active speaker in a large window and all other 

participants in small windows at the top of the screen. Note, if you pin a 

participant, you will automatically move to speaker view; after removing the pin, 

you will manually have to return to gallery view. To switch your view, click View

in the upper right corner of the videoconference, and then select Speaker View or 

Gallery View.

• Pinning Participants

You can have one participant’s video pinned at a time if you would like. You can 

pin or unpin the video feed of a single participant using the following methods:

o In the Participants window, hover over the participant’s name, click More, 

then select Pin. To remove the pin, do the same, but select Remove Pin.

o Click the three dots in the upper right corner of the participant’s video window 

and clicking Pin. Removing a pin can be done in the upper left corner of a 

pinned participant’s video window by clicking Remove Pin.

o If you have one participant pinned and desire to pin another instead, you can 

replace a pin directly by clicking on the three dots in the upper right corner of 

the person you now want to pin and clicking Replace Pin.