Fifth Circuit Seal
Fifth Circuit U.S. Court of Appeals
Hon. Jennifer W. Elrod, Chief Judge
Lyle W. Cayce, Clerk of Court
CLERK OF COURT - LYLE W. CAYCE

Clerk's Office

The Clerk's Office handles all filings, case management, and court records, and is the point of contact for attorneys, litigants, and the public on case-related matters. 

About this office

The Clerk of Court is appointed by the court and is charged by statute with faithfully entering and recording all orders, decrees, judgments, and proceedings of the court. The Clerk manages the flow of cases through the court, maintains court records, and handles other administrative duties as assigned by the court.

The Clerk ensures the random assignment of cases to judges and panels, and is responsible for central record keeping, maintaining caseload statistics, and maintaining the automation systems and programs related to electronic case filing and case processing. The Clerk also oversees the bar admission and renewal process, and serves as the point of contact for attorneys, litigants, and the public with respect to case-related matters.

Office hours

Regular hours
8:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m., Monday–Friday

Other office closings, such as for inclement weather, are announced on this website and on the main telephone line. Documents may be filed electronically using the court's CM/ECF system at any time. To file an emergency motion outside of normal business hours, please make arrangements with the Clerk's Office in advance.

Holiday schedule

The office remains open on some federal holidays with reduced staff. No court deadlines are set on federal holidays, regardless of whether staff are working.

New Year's DayOffice closed
Martin Luther King DayReduced staff
Washington's BirthdayReduced staff
Mardi GrasOffice closed
Memorial DayOffice closed
Juneteenth National Independence dayReduced staff
Independence DayOffice closed
Labor DayOffice closed
ColumbusReduced staff
Veteran's DayReduced staff
Thanksgiving DayOffice closed
Christmas DayOffice Closed