Supreme Court Adopts Rules Changes Aimed at Modernization (1)

The U.S. Supreme Court adopted amendments to federal appellate and evidentiary rules intended to make them more modernized and user-friendly.

These amendments will take effect on Dec. 1, unless Congress enacts legislation to the contrary.

Amendments including those to Federal Rules of Appellate Procedure 3, 5, 13, and 25 reflect a national rule adopted in 2018, which mandates electronic filing and service in civil cases.

The amendments to Rule 3, which now requires “mailing” a notice of appeal, would allow “sending” such a notice, for example.

The amendments to Rule 25(d)(1) would “eliminate unnecessary proofs of service when electronic filing ...