Court of Appeals
7/29/2021 Public Access Pilot Project - Redacted Briefs
Beginning August 1, 2021 (See Order M274-21 PDF) filers must remove personal information from briefs in certain civil cases: Civil I, Collections, Contracts, General Civil, Landlord and Tenant, Liens, Malpractice, Merit Personnel, Other Civil, Property, Real Property, Torts and Vehicle Cases. To file your redacted brief, fill out and attach a Redaction Certification then use the drop down menu in the eFiling system to select “Redacted Brief”. If you do not have an attorney and do not eFile, you can email efilehelp [at] dcappeals.gov. You can find more information, including the Redaction Certification form (PDF), FAQs (PDF), and Tips on Redacting (PDF) on the Court's eFiling page.
7/29/2021 The court is conducting oral arguments in person, effective September 2021.
7/1/2021 D.C. Court of Appeals Criminal Justice Act (CJA) Panel is open.
6/29/2021 Notice M275-21 regarding possible amendments to D.C. App. R. 3(c).(PDF)
6/17/2021 Order regarding Pilot Project: Public Access to Certain Briefs and Orders. (PDF)
6/10/2021 See Video: DC Court of Appeals Operations During Covid-19 (YouTube)
5/13/2021 Order issued by the District of Columbia Court of Appeals regarding amendments to D.C. App. R. 46. (PDF)
3/22/2021 Order regarding DC Court of Appeals continuing Operations (PDF)
3/16/2021 The DC Courts have remote hearing sites (PDF) available in various locations in the community to help persons who may not have computer devices or internet service at home to participate in scheduled DCCA remote oral arguments.
11/2/2020 Order regarding DCCA Pilot Project: Posting Briefs on the D.C. Court of Appeals Website (PDF)
6/26/2020 Joint Committee Order Requiring Persons to Wear Face Coverings in Court Buildings During the COVID-19 Pandemic (PDF)
6/10/2020 For the Court's June 10 Order on the October remote DC Bar Exam, click here.
To expand the administration of justice during the current pandemic, the court is conducting oral arguments via videoconference, effective May 26, 2020. The public may view the argument in real time at the DC Court of Appeals YouTube channel. If you are the arguing attorney or a self-represented party in an oral argument, you will receive an email containing a link to access your videoconference, and the participant protocol (PDF) provides technical guidance and best practices.
Pursuant to this court May 21, 2020, order, the court is no longer suspending or tolling filing deadlines. Unless the court has specifically ordered otherwise in a particular case, effective May 31, 2020, parties will have 30 days (until June 30, 2020) to submit any filings that were due on or before May 31, 2020. June filing due dates are not extended. Motions requesting extensions of time with respect to filing deadlines for motions, briefs, and other similar filings will be liberally granted consistent with the equities of the case.
3/16/2020 Order Regarding DC Court of Appeals Operating Status
The DC Court of Appeals, has just posted an order updating and detailing the Court of Appeals Coronavirus operations plan. The Court is not closing and is open for all new filings, through our eFiling process and via email for pro se parties who are not registered eFilers. The court will continue to decide motions and issue decisions on already argued and submitted cases during this time. However, all oral arguments scheduled through March 31, 2020, are cancelled. The Court will continue to decide cases on the summary calendar. Filing deadlines are being tolled until March 31, meaning if a filing is due 3/16 to 3/30, it may be filed on 3/31. The Court's eFiling rules that require that two paper copies be provided to the court are suspended. The Committee on Admissions (CoA) and the Committee on Unauthorized Practice of Law offices will be closed to the public until 3/31. However, the CoA Office will continue to receive and process applications, and grade the February 2020 bar exam. Appellate mediations will be rescheduled. Please see the order for additional information. Also go to www.dccourts.gov/coronavirus for more information.
3/13/2020 DC Court of Appeals Operating Status Update in light of the coronavirus emergency
This is an update on the status of the District of Columbia Court of Appeals’ operations in light of the current public health emergency due to the coronavirus. The Court of Appeals is not closing, but will remain open with some precautionary measures in place. To reduce the spread of the virus, we encourage all counsel and members of the public to increase their use of the court’s online services, such as e-filing and live-streaming oral arguments. On Monday, March 16, 2020, the Court of Appeals will be posting additional details regarding measures the court is taking in light of the coronavirus.
Specifically with respect to e-filing, starting Monday, March 16, 2020, the court will suspend the requirement for the filing of paper copies of electronically filed documents. See Electronic Filing and Service (ESF) Procedure 8. See also DCCA Administrative Order 1-18.
At this time, all oral arguments will go forward as scheduled, but requests for continuances by counsel because of particularized health concerns will be given special consideration. If you would like to observe oral arguments remotely, this weblink contains instructions for accessing live audio and video streams.
We encourage all visitors of the courthouse to take appropriate safety and health precautions and practice personal safety behaviors. If you (a) have been diagnosed with COVID-19, (b) have had known contact with a person with the virus, (c) have been asked to self-quarantine, or (d) are experiencing flu-like symptoms, please do not enter the courthouse to conduct business. Instead, please call the Clerk of the Court or the Public Office for assistance: (202) 879-2700.
For counsel and pro se parties who need to file an emergency pleading in this court, continue to follow the procedures outlined in this court’s rules.
The DC Courts has posted a coronavirus Advisory, which contains updates on the courts’ efforts to respond to this public health emergency. We encourage you to review that advisory, in addition to other public health warnings issued by the District.
Beginning August 1, 2021 (See Order M274-21 PDF) filers must remove personal information from briefs in certain civil cases: Civil I, Collections, Contracts, General Civil, Landlord and Tenant, Liens, Malpractice, Merit Personnel, Other Civil, Property, Real Property, Torts and Vehicle Cases. To file your redacted brief, fill out and attach a Redaction Certification then use the drop down menu in the eFiling system to select “Redacted Brief”. If you do not have an attorney and do not eFile, you can email efilehelp [at] dcappeals.gov. You can find more information, including the Redaction Certification form (PDF), FAQs (PDF), and Tips on Redacting (PDF) on the Court's eFiling page.
7/29/2021 The court is conducting oral arguments in person, effective September 2021.
7/1/2021 D.C. Court of Appeals Criminal Justice Act (CJA) Panel is open.
6/29/2021 Notice M275-21 regarding possible amendments to D.C. App. R. 3(c).(PDF)
6/17/2021 Order regarding Pilot Project: Public Access to Certain Briefs and Orders. (PDF)
6/10/2021 See Video: DC Court of Appeals Operations During Covid-19 (YouTube)
5/13/2021 Order issued by the District of Columbia Court of Appeals regarding amendments to D.C. App. R. 46. (PDF)
3/22/2021 Order regarding DC Court of Appeals continuing Operations (PDF)
3/16/2021 The DC Courts have remote hearing sites (PDF) available in various locations in the community to help persons who may not have computer devices or internet service at home to participate in scheduled DCCA remote oral arguments.
11/2/2020 Order regarding DCCA Pilot Project: Posting Briefs on the D.C. Court of Appeals Website (PDF)
6/26/2020 Joint Committee Order Requiring Persons to Wear Face Coverings in Court Buildings During the COVID-19 Pandemic (PDF)
6/10/2020 For the Court's June 10 Order on the October remote DC Bar Exam, click here.
5/21/2020 DCCA Remote Oral Arguments and Filing Deadlines
To expand the administration of justice during the current pandemic, the court is conducting oral arguments via videoconference, effective May 26, 2020. The public may view the argument in real time at the DC Court of Appeals YouTube channel. If you are the arguing attorney or a self-represented party in an oral argument, you will receive an email containing a link to access your videoconference, and the participant protocol (PDF) provides technical guidance and best practices.
Pursuant to this court May 21, 2020, order, the court is no longer suspending or tolling filing deadlines. Unless the court has specifically ordered otherwise in a particular case, effective May 31, 2020, parties will have 30 days (until June 30, 2020) to submit any filings that were due on or before May 31, 2020. June filing due dates are not extended. Motions requesting extensions of time with respect to filing deadlines for motions, briefs, and other similar filings will be liberally granted consistent with the equities of the case.
3/16/2020 Order Regarding DC Court of Appeals Operating Status
The DC Court of Appeals, has just posted an order updating and detailing the Court of Appeals Coronavirus operations plan. The Court is not closing and is open for all new filings, through our eFiling process and via email for pro se parties who are not registered eFilers. The court will continue to decide motions and issue decisions on already argued and submitted cases during this time. However, all oral arguments scheduled through March 31, 2020, are cancelled. The Court will continue to decide cases on the summary calendar. Filing deadlines are being tolled until March 31, meaning if a filing is due 3/16 to 3/30, it may be filed on 3/31. The Court's eFiling rules that require that two paper copies be provided to the court are suspended. The Committee on Admissions (CoA) and the Committee on Unauthorized Practice of Law offices will be closed to the public until 3/31. However, the CoA Office will continue to receive and process applications, and grade the February 2020 bar exam. Appellate mediations will be rescheduled. Please see the order for additional information. Also go to www.dccourts.gov/coronavirus for more information.
3/13/2020 DC Court of Appeals Operating Status Update in light of the coronavirus emergency
This is an update on the status of the District of Columbia Court of Appeals’ operations in light of the current public health emergency due to the coronavirus. The Court of Appeals is not closing, but will remain open with some precautionary measures in place. To reduce the spread of the virus, we encourage all counsel and members of the public to increase their use of the court’s online services, such as e-filing and live-streaming oral arguments. On Monday, March 16, 2020, the Court of Appeals will be posting additional details regarding measures the court is taking in light of the coronavirus.
Specifically with respect to e-filing, starting Monday, March 16, 2020, the court will suspend the requirement for the filing of paper copies of electronically filed documents. See Electronic Filing and Service (ESF) Procedure 8. See also DCCA Administrative Order 1-18.
At this time, all oral arguments will go forward as scheduled, but requests for continuances by counsel because of particularized health concerns will be given special consideration. If you would like to observe oral arguments remotely, this weblink contains instructions for accessing live audio and video streams.
We encourage all visitors of the courthouse to take appropriate safety and health precautions and practice personal safety behaviors. If you (a) have been diagnosed with COVID-19, (b) have had known contact with a person with the virus, (c) have been asked to self-quarantine, or (d) are experiencing flu-like symptoms, please do not enter the courthouse to conduct business. Instead, please call the Clerk of the Court or the Public Office for assistance: (202) 879-2700.
For counsel and pro se parties who need to file an emergency pleading in this court, continue to follow the procedures outlined in this court’s rules.
The DC Courts has posted a coronavirus Advisory, which contains updates on the courts’ efforts to respond to this public health emergency. We encourage you to review that advisory, in addition to other public health warnings issued by the District.
Congress established the District of Columbia Court of Appeals as the highest court of the District of Columbia in 1970. The court consists of a chief judge and eight associate judges. The court is assisted by the service of retired judges who have been recommended and approved as senior judges.
The DC Court of Appeals is the equivalent of a state supreme court. As the highest court for the District of Columbia, the Court of Appeals is authorized to review all final orders, judgments and specified interlocutory orders of the Superior Court of the District of Columbia. The Court also has jurisdiction to review contested case decisions of administrative agencies, boards, and commissions of the District of Columbia government, as well as to answer questions of law certified by federal and state appellate courts. As authorized by Congress, the Court reviews proposed rules of the Superior Court and promulgates its own rules. Additionally, the Court oversees attorneys who are members of its Bar.
IMPORTANT NOTICE
1/19/2018 Mandatory eFiling at the DC Court of Appeals
On Tuesday, February 20th, 2018, eFiling will become mandatory for all attorneys practicing at the DC Court of Appeals. This includes all agency attorneys who are not DC Bar members as well as attorneys practicing pro hac vice. Pro se litigants will still have the option to file at the court’s Public Office. Review the administrative order governing eFiling.
To see the Court of Appeals Calendar, click here.
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