Federal Rules Of Criminal Procedure, December 1, 2020

These rules govern the procedure in all criminal proceedings in the United States district courts, the United States court of appeals, and the Supreme Court of the United States. This booklet also covers the arrest warrant or summons on a complaint proceedings and proper forms, plus appearances upon arrest, consulting with counsel, subpoenas, detention release, procedures in a misdemeanor case, video teleconferencing, preliminary hearings, including scheduling and more.  Additionally, the Court of Clerk’s duties, trial proceedings, process for introducing evidence, court determinations, arraignments, notice of possible departure from Sentencing Guidelines, and defendant’s right to appeal are also covered.

Foreword  III

Authority for promulgation of rules  V

Historical note   VII

RULES Title I. Applicability

Rule 1. Scope; Definitions  1

Rule 2. Interpretation  2

Title II. Preliminary Proceedings

Rule 3. The Complaint  2

Rule 4. Arrest Warrant or Summons on a Complaint 3

Rule 4.1. Complaint, Warrant, or Summons by Telephone or Other Reliable Electronic Means 4

Rule 5. Initial Appearance  6

Rule 5.1. Preliminary Hearing  8

Title III. The Grand Jury, the Indictment, and the Information

Rule 6. The Grand Jury 9

Rule 7. The Indictment and the Information  14

Rule 8. Joinder of Offenses or Defendants  15

Rule 9. Arrest Warrant or Summons on an Indictment or Information 15

Title IV. Arraignment and Preparation for Trial

Rule 10. Arraignment . 16

Rule 11. Pleas  16

Rule 12. Pleadings and Pretrial Motions 19

Rule 12.1. Notice of an Alibi Defense 20

Rule 12.2. Notice of an Insanity Defense; Mental Examination  22

Rule 12.3. Notice of a Public-Authority Defense  23

Rule 12.4. Disclosure Statement 25

Rule 13. Joint Trial of Separate Cases  25

Rule 14. Relief from Prejudicial Joinder 26

Rule 15. Depositions  26

Rule 16. Discovery and Inspection   28

Rule 16.1. Pretrial Discovery Conference; Request for Court Action 31

Rule 17. Subpoena  31

Rule 17.1. Pretrial Conference  32

Title V. Venue

Rule 18. Place of Prosecution and Trial  33

Rule 19. (Reserved)

Rule 20. Transfer for Plea and Sentence  33

Rule 21. Transfer for Trial  34

Rule 22. (Transferred)

Title VI. Trial

Rule 23. Jury or Nonjury Trial  34

Rule 24. Trial Jurors 35

Rule 25. Judge’s Disability  36

Rule 26. Taking Testimony 36

Rule 26.1. Foreign Law Determination 36

Rule 26.2. Producing a Witness’s Statement  37

Rule 26.3. Mistrial  37

Rule 27. Proving an Official Record 38

Rule 28. Interpreters 38

Rule 29. Motion for a Judgment of Acquittal 38

Rule 29.1. Closing Argument 39

Rule 30. Jury Instructions 39

Rule 31. Jury Verdict 39

XVIII CONTENTS

Title VII. Post-Conviction Procedures Page

Rule 32. Sentencing and Judgment  40

Rule 32.1. Revoking or Modifying Probation or Supervised Release 44

Rule 32.2. Criminal Forfeiture  46

Rule 33. New Trial 50

Rule 34. Arresting Judgment 50

Rule 35. Correcting or Reducing a Sentence 50

Rule 36. Clerical Error   51

Rule 37. Indicative Ruling on a Motion for Relief That Is Barred by a Pending Appeal  51

Rule 38. Staying a Sentence or a Disability 51

Rule 39. (Reserved) Title VIII. Supplementary and Special Proceedings

Rule 40. Arrest for Failing to Appear in Another District or for Violating Conditions of Release Set in Another District   52

Rule 41. Search and Seizure  53

Rule 42. Criminal Contempt 57

Title IX. General Provisions

Rule 43. Defendant’s Presence  58

Rule 44. Right to and Appointment of Counsel 59

Rule 45. Computing and Extending Time 59

Rule 46. Release from Custody; Supervising Detention  61

Rule 47. Motions and Supporting Affidavits  62

Rule 48. Dismissal  63

Rule 49. Serving and Filing Papers  63

Rule 49.1. Privacy Protection For Filings Made with the Court   65

Rule 50. Prompt Disposition  66

Rule 51. Preserving Claimed Error 66

Rule 52. Harmless and Plain Error  66

Rule 53. Courtroom Photographing and Broadcasting Prohibited  66

Rule 54. (Transferred) Rule 55. Records  67

Rule 56. When Court Is Open  67

Rule 57. District Court Rules  67

Rule 58. Petty Offenses and Other Misdemeanors  68

Rule 59. Matters Before a Magistrate Judge  71

Rule 60. Victim’s Rights 72

Rule 61. Title   73 

Attorneys, paralegals, law enforcement, court clerks, prosecutors, defendants, judges, and others involved with the U.S. Court system in relation to criminal cases may be interested in this booklet.  Additionally, students pursuing criminal justice, or law degrees may be interested in these rules as they may impact their career choice(s).  Law libraries and public libraries should have a copy of this volume available for their patrons.