The Supreme Court of the United States has adopted a revised version of the Rules of the Court.  The revised version will take effect on February 16, 2010.  Rule 48 clarifies which version of the Rules applies to documents filed prior to the effective date of the revised Rules.

The revisions to the Rules include a reduction in the number of words allowed for a Reply Brief on the Merits from 7,500 to 6,000.  This change restores the volume limit in effect for such briefs prior to the 2007 Rules revisions.  Changes to Rules 26 and 34.1 clarify what is to be included on the cover of the Joint Appendix and require that counsel of record include an e-mail address on the cover of every document filed.  Additions to Rule 34 require a descriptive index of the appendices and citations to the United States Code whenever available. Rule 37 revisions clarify that only an attorney admitted to practice before this Court is permitted to file an amicus curiae brief and that extensions of time for amicus curiae briefs at the merits stage will not be entertained.  There were other minor changes made.

Copies of the revisions are available from the Court’s Public Information Office, the Court’s website, www.supremecourtus.gov, and various legal publishers.

The attached document describes which Rules were revised.  The Clerk's Comments are not part of the Rules, but are furnished to assist readers in understanding the changes.