Federal Appeals Court Calculator (All Circuits)

Calculate appeal deadlines, briefing schedules, and oral argument timing for all federal circuit courts with circuit-specific local rules and variations.

federalFederal Circuit Courts (1st-11th, DC, Federal)Professional-grade accuracy

Federal Appeals Court Calculator

Calculate deadlines for federal appellate proceedings across all circuits

Federal Courts
Important: This tool provides deadline calculations based on published court rules. Results are not legal advice. Always verify deadlines with the applicable court rules and consult with counsel when in doubt.
Calculate Deadline
Enter the case details to calculate the court deadline

Options

Federal Circuit Courts Overview
Jurisdiction and key characteristics of all federal appellate circuits

Geographic Circuits (1st-11th)

  • 1st Circuit: ME, MA, NH, RI, PR
  • 2nd Circuit: CT, NY, VT
  • 3rd Circuit: DE, NJ, PA, VI
  • 4th Circuit: MD, NC, SC, VA, WV
  • 5th Circuit: LA, MS, TX
  • 6th Circuit: KY, MI, OH, TN

Geographic Circuits (continued)

  • 7th Circuit: IL, IN, WI
  • 8th Circuit: AR, IA, MN, MO, NE, ND, SD
  • 9th Circuit: AK, AZ, CA, HI, ID, MT, NV, OR, WA
  • 10th Circuit: CO, KS, NM, OK, UT, WY
  • 11th Circuit: AL, FL, GA

Special Jurisdiction Circuits

  • D.C. Circuit: Washington D.C., federal agencies
  • Federal Circuit: Patents, international trade, federal claims
FRAP Deadlines & Briefing Schedule

Notice of Appeal (FRAP 4)

  • • Civil cases: 30 days from final judgment
  • • U.S. as party: 60 days from final judgment
  • • Criminal cases: 14 days from judgment
  • • Cross-appeals: 14 days after first notice
  • • Agency reviews: varies by statute

Briefing Schedule (FRAP 31)

  • • Appellant brief: 40 days after record filing
  • • Appellee brief: 30 days after appellant brief
  • • Reply brief: 21 days after appellee brief
  • • Extensions: up to 30 days with good cause
  • • Joint appendix: with appellant brief

Record Preparation (FRAP 10-11)

  • • Transcript order: within 14 days of notice
  • • Record assembly: 40 days after notice
  • • Record transmission: when complete
  • • Statement of issues: with record

Post-Briefing Procedures

  • • Oral argument scheduling: varies by circuit
  • • Pre-argument mediation: some circuits
  • • Decision timeline: 6-18 months typical
  • • Petition for rehearing: 45 days
Circuit-Specific Local Rules & Variations

D.C. Circuit Specifics

Heavy administrative law docket. Abbreviated briefing procedures for some agency cases. Extensive electronic filing requirements. Pre-argument settlement conferences common.

9th Circuit Practices

Largest circuit with heavy caseload. Frequent use of 3-judge motions panels. Appellate Settlement Program available. Calendar notes system for case tracking.

Federal Circuit Specialization

Exclusive jurisdiction over patent appeals, international trade, federal personnel, and Court of Federal Claims. Specialized local rules for technical cases.

5th Circuit Procedures

Strict adherence to briefing deadlines. Active mediation program. Frequent oral arguments. Summary disposition procedures for appropriate cases.

Key Federal Rules
FRAP 4 - Appeal Time LimitsFRAP 10-11 - Record AssemblyFRAP 28-32 - Briefing RulesFRAP 34 - Oral Argument
Professional Tips
Order transcripts immediately after filing notice of appeal
Check circuit-specific local rules for variations
Consider pre-briefing settlement or mediation programs
Plan for potential oral argument scheduling
How to Use This Calculator
Step-by-step instructions for accurate deadline calculations
1

Enter Final Judgment Date

Input the date of the final judgment or appealable order. FRAP 4(a)(1) requires notice of appeal within 30 days for most civil cases, 60 days if the United States is a party.

2

Select Circuit Court

Choose your circuit (1st-11th, D.C., or Federal Circuit). Each circuit has local rules that may modify briefing schedules, page limits, and procedural requirements.

3

Identify Case Type

Specify civil appeal, criminal appeal, agency review, or special proceeding. Different case types have varying deadlines and procedural requirements under FRAP.

4

Check for Tolling Events

Determine if post-judgment motions were filed (Rule 59, 60, etc.). These motions toll the appeal deadline until resolution, potentially extending your filing window.

5

Plan Briefing Schedule

Calculate appellant brief (40 days after record filing), appellee brief (30 days after appellant brief), and optional reply brief (21 days after appellee brief) deadlines.

6

Coordinate Record Preparation

Order transcripts immediately (FRAP 10), coordinate with court reporter, and ensure complete record transmission within 40 days of notice filing.

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