NEWS RELEASE

Administrative Office of the U.S. Courts

 February 8, 2000 Contact: Beth Grabo

 

Federal Rules Material Now Available Online

The Federal Judiciary has expanded its web site [www.uscourts.gov] to include information on the Federal Rules of Practice and Procedure. With just a click of the mouse, Internet users now can access the current rules, proposed amendments to the rules submitted for public comment, and approved proposed amendments pending review by the Supreme Court and Congress. This information is not currently available from any other single source.

“We hope that lawyers and the public will welcome and take full advantage of the easy availability of rules-related material,” said Judge Anthony Scirica, chair of the Judicial Conference Committee on Rules of Practice and Procedure. “This expanded web site furthers the Judiciary’s commitment to providing full public access to all aspects of the federal rule-making process.”

Also included on the site are working papers of the Judicial Conference’s Committee on Rules of Practice and Procedure and of the five advisory rules committees, including minutes of committee meetings, agenda reports, status charts on proposed rule amendments, a schedule of upcoming meetings and hearings, and a list of pending legislation affecting rules. Planned future additions include committee reports and copies of major studies undertaken by the rules committees regarding class action, mass tort, and attorney conduct rules projects.

Comments to proposed rules amendments also may be submitted electronically via this Internet site as part of a Judicial Conference pilot involving the Advisory Committees on Appellate, Bankruptcy, Civil, Criminal, and Evidence Rules.

The federal rules govern procedure, practice, and evidence in the federal courts. They set forth the procedures for the conduct of court proceedings and also serve as a pattern for the procedural rules adopted by many state courts. Congress has authorized the federal Judiciary to prescribe the rules of practice, procedure, and evidence for the federal courts, subject to the ultimate legislative right of Congress to reject, modify, or defer any of the rules.

When visiting www.uscourts.gov, click on “About the U.S. Courts” to access the Federal Rulemaking information.

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