Rule 47: Expedited Proceedings
(a) Motion and Order. On a party's motion for good cause shown, on written agreement of the parties, or on its own initiative, the Court may order that any matter before the Court be expedited with respect to some or all procedural steps. The following may constitute good cause:
(1) a serious health condition that makes the death of the appellant or petitioner imminent, as shown by a medical provider's statement (including identification of the provider's licensing authority and current license number);
(2) the advanced age (over 75 years) of the appellant or petitioner and a state of failing health due to a nontemporary condition, as shown by a medical provider's statement (including identification of the provider's licensing authority and current license number), such that expeditious proceedings are necessary to avoid an injustice to the appellant or petitioner; or
(3) any other exceptional circumstances that make expeditious proceedings necessary to avoid an injustice to the appellant or petitioner, as shown by credible evidence.
(b) Filing and Service of Documents. Expedited proceedings will be scheduled as directed by the Court. Unless otherwise ordered, the parties shall serve and file documents as follows.
(1) Staff Conferences. In cases scheduled for pre-briefing staff conferences under Rule 33 (Staff Conference), the appellant shall submit to the Secretary and the Court's Central Legal Staff, no later than 7 days prior to the staff conference, a summary of the issues the appellant intends to raise in the appeal in accordance with Rule 33(b) (Pre-Briefing Process).
(2) Briefing. The appellant shall serve and file a principal brief not later than 20 days after the record before the agency has been served on the appellant or 10 days after the Rule 33 staff conference, whichever is later; the Secretary shall serve and file a brief not later than 20 days after service of the appellant's brief; and the appellant may serve and file a reply brief not later than 10 days after service of the Secretary's brief.
(3)Record of Proceedings. The time to serve and file the record of proceedings under Rule 28.1(a)(3) (Record of Proceedings-Time for Filing) is reduced to 7 days.
(c) Extensions of Time. An extension of time for good cause under Rule 26(b) may be granted for a total of 15 days for any particular filing. Any motion to extend the time set by these Rules or by an order or notice of the Court beyond a total of 15 days for a particular filing will be granted only for extraordinary circumstances.
(d) Form and Length of Briefs. Briefs submitted for filing under this Rule shall comply with Rules 25 (Filing and Service), 28 (Briefs), and 32 (Form of Briefs, Appendices, and Other Documents), except that principal briefs shall be limited to 15 pages, reply briefs shall be limited to 7 pages, and a table of authorities is not required.
