SUBMIT COMMENTS ON PROPOSED
RULE AMENDMENTS ELECTRONICALLY

The Judicial Conference Committee on Practice and Procedure, on the advice of the Advisory Committees on Appellate, Bankruptcy, Civil, Criminal, and Evidence Rules, has agreed to consider -- as part of a two-year pilot project and on an optional basis -- comments on proposed rule amendments received electronically via the Internet in addition to written comments.

In deciding whether to approve the pilot project, the rules committees considered the reservations voiced by some members that comments submitted electronically may not be as carefully prepared or worded as comments submitted in writing. On the other hand, the convenience and widespread availability of Internet will broaden the audience and likely increase the number of comments submitted on the rule amendments. On balance, the rules committees concluded to proceed with the project and review it after two years.

Every comment sent electronically will be circulated to each member of the pertinent advisory rules committee for review. The receipt of every electronic comment received will be automatically acknowledged. Depending on the volume of comments, summaries of comments sent electronically may be grouped. It is also likely that a general and generic follow-up describing the committee's action on comments submitted electronically will be posted on the Internet web site instead of individual notification of the committee's response to the comment.

The Judicial Conference's Committee on Rules of Practice and Procedure is seeking comment on Proposed Amendments and Proposed Style Revision of the Criminal Rules. (click SUBMIT COMMENTS located at the bottom of the left-hand column adjacent to the text of the proposed amendments when ready to send comments.)

The following are acceptable methods for submitting comments: [Tips for submitting comments]

• Web-based Comment Form
  By using the Web-based comment form, comments can be filed directly through this web site. Brief comments -- up to about one page in length -- can be transmitted. Comments longer than one page, including comments contained in an attached separate document, can be sent as an Email message as described below.

• Internet Email (with or without attachments)
  Comments can be sent by internet email to Rules_Comments@ao.uscourts.gov. (See requirements by following the 'Internet Email' link.)

• U.S. Mail
  Comments may also be mailed to:
  
  

  Peter G. McCabe, Secretary of the Committee on Rules of Practice and Procedure Administrative Office of the U.S. Courts One Columbus Circle, N.E. Washington, DC 20054

• Fax
  Comments may be faxed to (202) 502-1755
  Attention: Peter G. McCabe, Secretary