(a) In a Particular Case. On its own or a party’s motion, a court of appeals may—to expedite its decision or for other good cause—suspend any provision of these rules in a particular case and order proceedings as it directs, except as otherwise provided in Rule 26(b).

(b) In an Appellate Rules Emergency.

(1) Conditions of Emergency. The Judicial Conference of the United States may declare an Appellate Rules emergency if it determines that extraordinary circumstances relating to public health or safety, or affecting physical or electronic access to a court, substantially impair the court’s ability to perform its functions in compliance with these rules.

(2) Content. The declaration must:

(A) designate the circuit or circuits affected; and

(B) be limited to a stated period of no more than 90 days.

(3) Early Termination. The Judicial Conference may terminate a declaration for one of more circuits before the termination date.

(4) Additional Declarations. The Judicial Conference may issue additional declarations under this rule.

(5) Proceedings in a Rules Emergency. When a rules emergency is declared the court may:

(A) suspend in all or part of that circuit any provision of these rules, other than time limits imposed by statute and described in Rule 26(b)(1)-(2); and

(B) order proceedings as it directs.

Notes

(As amended Apr. 24, 1998, eff. Dec. 1, 1998.)

Notes of Advisory Committee on Rules—1967

The primary purpose of this rule is to make clear the power of the courts of appeals to expedite the determination of cases of pressing concern to the public or to the litigants by prescribing a time schedule other than that provided by the rules. The rule also contains a general authorization to the courts to relieve litigants of the consequences of default where manifest injustice would otherwise result. Rule 26(b) prohibits a court of appeals from extending the time for taking appeal or seeking review.

Committee Notes on Rules—1998 Amendment

The language of the rule is amended to make the rule more easily understood. In addition to changes made to improve the understanding, the Advisory Committee has changed language to make style and terminology consistent throughout the appellate rules. These changes are intended to be stylistic only.

Committee Notes on Rules—2023 Amendment

Flexible application of the Federal Rules of Appellate Procedure, including Rule 2, has enabled the courts of appeals to continue their operations despite the coronavirus pandemic. Future emergencies, however, may pose problems that call for broader authority to suspend provisions of the Federal Rules of Appellate Procedure. For that reason, the amendment adds a new subdivision authorizing broader suspension authority when the Judicial Conference of the United States declares an Appellate Rules emergency. The amendment is designed to add to the authority of courts of appeals; it should not be interpreted to restrict the authority previously exercised by the courts of appeals.

The circumstances warranting the declaration of an Appellate Rules emergency mirror those warranting a declaration of a Civil Rules emergency and a Bankruptcy Rules emergency: extraordinary circumstances relating to public health or safety, or affecting physical or electronic access to a court, that substantially impair the court’s ability to perform its functions in compliance with these rules. A declaration must designate the circuit or circuits affected. It must also have a sunset provision so that the declaration is in effect for no more than 90 days unless the Judicial Conference makes an additional declaration. The Judicial Conference may also terminate the declaration for one or more circuits before the termination date.

When a rules emergency is declared, the court of appeals may suspend in all or part of that circuit any provision of these rules, other than time limits imposed by statute and described in Rule 26(b)(1)-(2). This enables the court of appeals to suspend the time to appeal or seek review set only by a rule, but it does not authorize the court of appeals to suspend jurisdictional time limits imposed by statute. Sometimes when a rule is suspended, there is no need to provide any alternative to the suspended rule. For example, if the requirement of submitting paper copies of briefs is suspended, it may be enough to rely on electronic submissions. However, to deal with situations in which an alternative is required, the amendment empowers the court to “order proceedings as it directs,” the same language that existed in Rule 2—now Rule 2(a)—before this amendment.