Attorney Admission Instructions

Admission to the bar of this court is generally governed by Rule 46(a) of the Federal Rules of Appellate Procedure and Circuit Rule 46-1. The practical effect of these rules is summarized below:

(A) Upon causing a case to be docketed in this court, or entering an appearance herein, an attorney so doing who is not already admitted to the bar of this court shall simultaneously apply for admission, except as noted in (B), below.

(B) Federal government attorneys who are representing the United States or an agency thereof are not subject to the admission fee while in government employ.

(C) In order to be admitted to the bar of this court, an attorney must have been previously admitted to practice (and be in good standing) before (1) the Supreme Court of the United States, (2) another United States Court of Appeals, (3) any United States District Court, or (4) the highest state appellate court of one of the states of the United States.

(D) Each applicant must be sponsored by a member in good standing of the bar of this court. Please be certain that your sponsor is a member of the bar of this court in order to avoid undue delay in processing your application.

(E) The Court, by general order of October 2011, has set the attorney admission fee to this court at $230. Your check or money order must be included with the application. If you are registered for the 9th Circuit's Appellate ECF system, you may upload your application via ECF and pay with a credit card by logging into Appellate ECF and clicking on Utilities > Bar Admission. Step-by-step instructions can be found in the ECF User Guide at: http://www.ca9.uscourts.gov/datastore/uploads/cmecf/ecf-user-guide.pdf

(F) Admission by mail or via Appellate ECF is preferred over admission in open court. If you find it necessary to be admitted in open court, you must report with your sponsor to the office of the clerk at the time and place where the court is sitting no later than 45 minutes prior to the opening of a court session. You must complete an "Application and Oath for Admission" form and pay the admission fee before being admitted in court.

(G) In order to be admitted by mail or via Appellate ECF, you must complete the form entitled "Application and Oath for Admission." If this document is not legibly completed, your application will be returned. The form is available on the Court’s public website in fillable pdf format at: http://www.ca9.uscourts.gov/datastore/uploads/forms/Atty_Application_and_Oath.pdf

Counsel should also be familiar with the provisions of Circuit Rules 46-2 through 46-5, which provides for diligent prosecution of appeals, especially criminal appeals (46-2); prompt notice to the court of counsel’s change of address (46-3); participation of law students under supervision of a member of the bar of this court (46-4); and restrictions on practice before this court by its former employees (46-5).

Once counsel is admitted, counsel is admitted for life unless the Court orders otherwise.