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Pending Rules and Forms Amendments

Any change to the federal rules must be designed to promote simplicity in procedure, fairness in administration, the just determination of litigation, and the elimination of unjustifiable expense and delay.

An amendment to a federal rule generally takes about three years.  As described in more detail at Overview for the Bench, Bar and Public, a proposed rule change is usually considered by an advisory committee and published for comment as part of a document called a Preliminary Draft during the first year of the process, considered by the Committee on Rules of Practice and Procedure (the “Standing Committee”) and the Judicial Conference in the second year, and by the Supreme Court and Congress in the third year.

Below are the proposed amendments organized by the year they are projected to go into effect with links to the relevant Congressional, Supreme Court, Judicial Conference, Standing Committee, and Preliminary Draft, as such materials become available.1

December 1, 2023

  • Appellate Rules 2, 4, 26, and 45.
  • Bankruptcy Rules 3011, 8003, 9006, and new Rule 9038.
  • Civil Rules 6, 15, 72, and new Rule 87.
  • Criminal Rules 16, 45, 56, and new Rule 62.
  • Evidence Rules 106, 615, and 702.

Congressional Package (pdf) – April 2023

Supreme Court Package (pdf) – October 2022

Standing Committee Report to the Judicial Conference (pdf) – September 2022

Preliminary Draft of Proposed Amendments to the Federal Rules (pdf) – August 2021

December 1, 2024

  • Appellate Rules 32, 35, 40, and Appendix on Length Limits.
  • Bankruptcy Restyled Rules Parts VII to IX, Rules 1007, 4004, 5009, 7001, 9006, and proposed new Rule 8023.1.
    • Official Bankruptcy Form 410A.
  • Civil Rule 12.
  • Evidence Rules 611, 613, 801, 804, and 1006.

Preliminary Draft of Proposed Amendments to the Federal Rules (pdf) – August 2022

1 Although the rules listed are projected to go into effect on the dates listed, they can be delayed for various reasons or withdrawn entirely.  Rule and form changes being considered by advisory committees can be found in their most recent agenda books or reports.