Third Circuit Will Continue to Hear Oral Arguments Despite Coronavirus

The Third Circuit announced today that it “is open for business and will fulfill its constitutional and statutory obligations and responsibilities.” Oral arguments will continue as scheduled, but merits panels “will determine the manner of argument.” Parties may file a motion requesting to appear by audio conference.”

The “majority” of Clerk’s Office personnel will be working remotely. Parties who need to file motions seeking emergent relief should call 267-299-4904, leave a detailed message, and await a return call.

Some of the usual requirements are being relaxed. The three-day time limit for seeking a verbal extension under Third Circuit Local Appellate Rule 31.4 is relaxed until normal operation of the Clerk’s office resumes. Such requests may now be made by calling either the Court’s main number or the responsible case manager directly.

Also relaxed, or “deferred,” as today’s notice states, is the filing of paper copies of briefs and appendices. That will be so until further order of the Court. And “[a]ny document which is received within 3 days of the current deadline will be deemed timely filed without the need to file a motion unless the parties are specifically advised otherwise.”

Finally, a caution: “The due date for a notice of appeal, petition for review or other document that confers jurisdiction on the Court is not altered by this notice. The filing dates for those papers remain as stated in the statute or rule that confers jurisdiction.”