District Court Rules

(a) In General. (1) Adopting Local Rules. Each district court acting by a ma- jority of its district judges may, after giving appropriate pub- lic notice and an opportunity to comment, make and amend 1 All of Rule 54 was moved to Rule 1. 69 FEDERAL RULES OF CRIMINAL PROCEDURE Rule 58 rules governing its practice. A local rule must be consistent with—but not duplicative of—federal statutes and rules adopt- ed under 28 U.S.C. § 2072 and must conform to any uniform numbering system prescribed by the Judicial Conference of the United States. (2) Limiting Enforcement. A local rule imposing a require- ment of form must not be enforced in a manner that causes a party to lose rights because of an unintentional failure to comply with the requirement. (b) Procedure When There Is No Controlling Law. A judge may regulate practice in any manner consistent with federal law, these rules, and the local rules of the district. No sanction or other dis- advantage may be imposed for noncompliance with any require- ment not in federal law, federal rules, or the local district rules unless the alleged violator was furnished with actual notice of the requirement before the noncompliance. (c) Effective Date and Notice. A local rule adopted under this rule takes effect on the date specified by the district court and re- mains in effect unless amended by the district court or abrogated by the judicial council of the circuit in which the district is lo- cated. Copies of local rules and their amendments, when promul- gated, must be furnished to the judicial council and the Adminis- trative Office of the United States Courts and must be made avail- able to the public. (As amended Dec. 27, 1948, eff. Oct. 20, 1949; Dec. 4, 1967, eff. July 1, 1968; Apr. 29, 1985, eff. Aug. 1, 1985; Apr. 22, 1993, eff. Dec. 1, 1993; Apr. 27, 1995, eff. Dec. 1, 1995; Apr. 29, 2002, eff. Dec. 1, 2002.)