Amended Rules Effective December 1, 2014

A number of amendments to the Federal Rules of Practice and Procedure and official bankruptcy forms became effective December 1, 2014. The changes to the Federal Rules follow recommendations by the Judicial Conference of the United States, review by the Supreme Court, and consideration by Congress. The amendments affect the Appellate, Civil, Criminal, Bankruptcy and Evidence Rules. 

The Federal Rules of Practice and Procedure govern the conduct of trials, appeals, and cases under Title 11 of the United States Code. In the Rulemaking process, it usually takes two to three years for a proposal to be enacted as a rule.

The Judicial Conference Committee on Rules of Practice and Procedure reviews the findings of its advisory committees, and determines whether to recommend Judicial Conference approval of the proposed rules amendments. If the Conference approves the amendments, it transmits them to the Supreme Court. The Court considers the proposals and, if it concurs, officially promulgates the revised rules by order before May 1, to take effect no earlier than December 1 of the same year, unless Congress enacts legislation to reject, modify, or defer the pending rules.