November 24, 2000

MEMORANDUM TO ALL:

UNITED STATES JUDGES
CIRCUIT EXECUTIVES
FEDERAL PUBLIC/COMMUNITY DEFENDERS
DISTRICT COURT EXECUTIVES
CLERKS, UNITED STATES COURTS
CHIEF PROBATION OFFICERS
CHIEF PRETRIAL SERVICES OFFICERS
SENIOR STAFF ATTORNEYS
CHIEF PREARGUMENT/CONFERENCE ATTORNEYS
BANKRUPTCY ADMINISTRATORS
CIRCUIT LIBRARIANS

SUBJECT: Amendments to the Rules of Practice and Procedure (INFORMATION)

Congress is in recess until December 5. It has taken no action on the amendments to the Federal Rules of Bankruptcy, Civil, and Criminal Procedure, and the Rules of Evidence, approved by the Supreme Court on April 17, 2000. Accordingly, the amendments to the rules will take effect on December 1, 2000, including:

Bankruptcy Rules 1017, 2002(a), 4003, 4004, and 5003;
Civil Rules 4, 5, 12, 14, 26, 30, and 37 and Rules B, C, and E of the Supplemental Rules for Certain Admiralty and Maritime Claims;
Criminal Rules 7, 31, 32, and 38, and new Rule 32.2; and
Evidence Rules 103, 404, 701, 702, 703, 803(6), and 902.

The amendments were mailed to you in May 2000 as part of House Documents 106-225, 106-226, 106-227, and 106-228. In accordance with 28 U.S.C. § 2074(a) and the April 17, 2000, orders of the Supreme Court, the pertinent amendments will govern all proceedings commenced on or after December 1, 2000, and "insofar as just and practicable" all proceedings then pending. The text of the amended rules can be found on the judiciary's Federal Rulemaking web site at http//:www.uscourts.gov/rules/. In addition, pamphlets containing the rules, as amended, will be sent to you as soon as they become available from the Government Printing Office.

If you have any questions concerning the status of these amendments please call Peter G. McCabe, Assistant Director, Office of Judges Programs at (202) 502-1800, or John K. Rabiej, Chief, Rules Committee Support Office at (202) 502-1820.