Page images
PDF
EPUB

ORIGINAL RULES.

[The rules of the circuit courts of appeals as originally adopted were substantially the same in the different circuits, and are here printed in full. Where the rule as originally adopted differed from the rule as here given, it will be found printed in full under its respective circuit; and all amendments, repeals, and additions are likewise shown under the head of the respective circuits.]

1.

NAME.

The court adopts "United States Circuit Court of Appeals for the -1 Circuit" as the title of the court.

2. SEAL.

The seal shall contain the words "United States" on the upper part of the outer edge; and the words "Circuit Court of Appeals" on the lower part of the outer edge, running from left to right; and the words" 1 Circuit" in two lines, in the center, with a dash be

[blocks in formation]

[See this rule under the head of the particular circuit.]

4.

QUORUM.

1. If at any term a quorum does not attend on any day appointed for holding it, any judge who does attend may adjourn the court from

1 [First, second, third, fourth, fifth, sixth, seventh, eighth, and ninth, respectively.]

[blocks in formation]

time to time, or, in the absence of any judge, the clerk may adjourn the court from day to day. If, during a term, after a quorum has assembled, less than that number attend on any day, any judge attending may adjourn the court from day to day until there is a quorum, or may adjourn without day.

2. Any judge attending when less than a quorum is present may make all necessary orders touching any suit, proceeding, or process, depending in or returned to the court, preparatory to hearing, trial, or decision thereof.

5.

CLERK.

1. The clerk's office shall be kept at the place designated in the act creating the court at which a term shall be held annually.

2. The clerk shall not practice, either as attorney or counselor, in this court, or in any other court, while he shall continue to be clerk of this court.

3. He shall, before he enters on the execution of his office, take an oath in the form prescribed by section 794 of the Revised Statutes, and shall give bond in a sum to be fixed, and with sureties to be approved, by the court, faithfully to discharge the duties of his office, and seasonably to record the decrees, judgments, and determinations of the court. A copy of such bond shall be entered on the journal of the court, and the bond shall be deposited for safe-keeping as the court may direct.

4. He shall not permit any original record or paper to be taken from the court-room or from the office without an order from the court.

6.

MARSHAL, CRIER, AND OTHER OFFICERS.

1. Every marshal and deputy-marshal shall, before he enters on the duties of his appointment, take an oath in the form prescribed by section 782 of the Revised Statutes, and the marshal shall, before he enters on the duties of his office, give bond in a sum to be fixed, and with sureties to be approved, by the court, for the faithful performance of said duties by himself and his deputies. Said bond shall be filed and recorded in the office of the clerk of the court.

2. The marshal and crier shall be in attendance during the sessions of the court, with such number of bailiffs and messengers as the court may, from time to time, order.

7.

ATTORNEYS AND COUNSELORS.

All attorneys and counselors admitted to practice in the supreme court of the United States, or in any circuit court of the United States, shall become attorneys and counselors in this court on taking

an oath or affirmation in the form prescribed by rule 2 of the supreme court of the United States, and on subscribing the roll; but no fee shall be charged therefor.

8.

PRACTICE.

The practice shall be the same as in the supreme court of the United States, as far as the same shall be applicable.

9.

PROCESS.

All process of this court shall be in the name of the president of the United States, and shall be in like form and tested in the same manner as process of the supreme court.

10.

BILL OF EXCEPTIONS.

The judges of the circuit and district courts shall not allow any bill of exceptions which shall contain the charge of the court at large to the jury in trials at common law, upon any general exception to the whole of such charge. But the party excepting shall be required to state distinctly the several matters of law in such charge to which he excepts; and those matters of law, and those only, shall be inserted in the bill of exceptions, and allowed by the court.

11.

ASSIGNMENT OF ERRORS.

The plaintiff in error or appellant shall file with the clerk of the court below, with his petition for the writ of error or appeal, an assignment of errors, which shall set out separately and particularly each error asserted and intended to be urged. No writ of error or appeal shall be allowed until such assignment of errors shall have been filed. When the error alleged is to the admission or to the rejection of evidence, the assignment of errors shall quote the full substance of the evidence admitted or rejected. When the error alleged is to the charge of the court, the assignment of error shall set out the part referred to totidem verbis, whether it be in instructions given or in instructions refused. Such assignment of errors shall form part of the transcript of the record, and be printed with it. When this is not done, counsel will not be heard, except at the request of the court; and errors not assigned according to this rule will be disregarded, but the court, at its option, may notice a plain error not assigned.

12.

OBJECTIONS TO EVIDENCE IN THE RECORD.

In all cases of equity or admiralty jurisdiction, heard in this court, no objection shall be allowed to be taken to the admissibility of any deposition, deed, grant, exhibit, or translation, found in the record as evidence, unless objection was taken thereto in the court below and entered of record; but the same shall otherwise be deemed to have been admitted by consent.

13.

SUPERSEDEAS AND COST BONDS.

1. Supersedeas bonds in the circuit and district courts must be taken,. with good and sufficient security, that the plaintiff in error or appellant shall prosecute his writ or appeal to effect, and answer all damages and costs if he fail to make his plea good. Such indemnity, where the judgment or decree is for the recovery of money not otherwise secured, must be for the whole amount of the judgment or decree, including just damages for delay, and costs and interest on the appeal; but, in all suits where the property in controversy necessarily follows the suit, as in real actions and replevin, and in suits on mortgages, or where the property is in the custody of the marshal under admiralty process, or where the proceeds thereof, or a bond for the value thereof, is in the custody of the court, indemnity in all such cases will be required only in an amount sufficient to secure the sum recovered for the use and detention of the property, and the costs of the suit and just damages for delay, and costs and interest on the appeal.

2. On all appeals from any interlocutory order or decree granting or continuing an injunction in a circuit or district court, the appellant shall, at the time of the allowance of said appeal, file with the clerk of such circuit or district court a bond to the opposite party, in such sum as such court shall direct, to answer all costs if he shall fail to sustain. his appeal.

14.

WRITS OF ERROR, APPEALS, RETURN, AND RECORD.

1. The clerk of the court to which any writ of error may be directed shall make a return of the same by transmitting a true copy of the record, bill of exceptions, assignment of errors, and all proceedings in the case, under his hand and the seal of the court.

2. In all cases brought to this court by writ of error or appeal to review any judgment or decree, the clerk of the court by which such judgment or decree was rendered shall annex to and transmit with the record a copy of the opinion or opinions filed in the case.

3. No case will be heard until a complete record, containing in itself, and not by reference, all the papers, exhibits, depositions, and other proceedings, which are necessary to the hearing in this court, shall be

[ocr errors]

4. Whenever it shall be necessary or proper, in the opinion of the presiding judge in any circuit or district court, that original papers of any kind should be inspected in this court upon writ of error or appeal, such presiding judge may make such rule or order for the safekeeping, transporting, and return of such original papers as to him may seem proper; and this court will receive and consider such original papers in connection with the transcript of the proceedings.

5. All appeals, writs of error, and citations must be made returnable not exceeding thirty days from the day of signing the citation, whether the return-day fall in vacation or in term-time and be served before the return-day.

6. The record in cases of admiralty and maritime jurisdiction shall be made up as provided in general admiralty rule No. 52 of the supreme

court.

15.

TRANSLATIONS.

Whenever any record transmitted to this court upon a writ of error or appeal shall contain any document, paper, testimony, or other proceeding, in a foreign language, and the record does not also contain a translation of such document, paper, testimony, or other proceeding, made under the authority of the inferior court, or admitted to be correct, the record shall not be printed; but the case shall be reported to this court by the clerk, and the court will thereupon remand it back to the inferior court, in order that a translation may be there supplied and inserted in the record.

16.

DOCKETING CASES.

1. It shall be the duty of the plaintiff in error or appellant to docket the case, and file the record thereof with the clerk of this court, by or before the return-day, whether in vacation or in term-time. But, for good cause shown, the justice or judge who signed the citation, or any judge of this court, may enlarge the time by or before its expiration, the order of enlargement to be filed with the clerk of this court. If the plaintiff in error or appellant shall fail to comply with this rule, the defendant in error or appellee may have the cause docketed and dismissed, upon producing a certificate, whether in term-time or vacation, from the clerk of the court wherein the judgment or decree was rendered, stating the case, and certifying that such writ of error or appeal has been duly sued out or allowed. And in no case shall the plaintiff in error or appellant be entitled to docket the case and file the record after the same shall have been docketed and dismissed under this rule, unless by order of the court.

2. But the defendant in error or appellee may, at his option, docket the case and file a copy of the record with the clerk of this court; and, if the case is docketed and a copy of the record filed with the clerk of this court by the plaintiff in error or appellant within the period of time above limited and prescribed by this rule, or by the defendant in error

« PreviousContinue »