When must I file a federal post-judgment motion?

Identify the motion before selecting the trigger. Rules 59(b), 59(e) and 52(b) use judgment entry. Rule 50(b) ordinarily does too.

Rule 50(b) uses jury discharge if the motion addresses a jury issue not decided by a verdict. A later judgment entry does not replace that specified event.

Check judgment entry under Rule 58(c). If a separate document is not required, entry in the civil docket controls. If one is required, docket entry and the earlier of a separate document or 150 days from docket entry control. The calculator takes the established entry date rather than deciding whether those requirements are met.

1. Use judgment entry for the ordinary branch. Use jury discharge only for a Rule 50(b) issue not decided by a verdict.
2. Exclude that day.
3. Count 28 calendar days.
4. A final Saturday, Sunday or legal holiday carries the period to the next day that is not. Check additional state holidays and clerk inaccessibility.

Each selected motion has a 28-day period. The Rule 50(b) jury-discharge branch changes the event, not the number of days. Check the district’s additional state holidays and clerk accessibility.

Fictitious example

Judgment was entered August 3. Rule 59(e) applies, and no additional holiday or accessibility issue affects the last day. Exclude August 3. August 4–31 supplies 28 days. The last day is Monday, August 31.

Fictitious dates. No additional state holiday, closure or different case order is assumed.

No extension under Rule 6(b)

Rule 6(b)(2) expressly prohibits extending time to act under Rules 50(b), 52(b), 59(b) and 59(e). Do not apply the ordinary good-cause or excusable-neglect extension power.

Renewed judgment as a matter of law

Rule 50(b) concerns renewing a Rule 50(a) motion not granted before the case was submitted to the jury. Check the prior motion, issues and the alternative jury-discharge trigger.

Amended findings

Rule 52(b) permits a timely motion for amended or additional findings and a corresponding judgment amendment. The motion may accompany a Rule 59 new-trial motion.

New-trial affidavits

Under Rule 59(c), affidavits supporting a new-trial motion must be filed with it. The opposing party’s affidavit response is a separate 14-day period after service, not this 28-day filing period.

Other post-judgment procedures

This page covers the four selected motions. Rule 60 relief and an appeal require separate procedural and timing analysis. Do not treat every request labeled reconsideration as the same motion.

• This calculation does not establish judgment entry, motion eligibility or substantive grounds.
• This page does not calculate the separate appeal period or assume that an appeal deadline has been suspended.

• Identify the actual motion and rule.
• Preserve the judgment, civil-docket entry and any required separate document.
• For the specified Rule 50(b) issue, preserve the jury-discharge date and the prior Rule 50(a) motion.
• Select the correct branch and enter its operative date.
• Check federal and additional district-state holidays, clerk accessibility and local filing requirements.
• Include supporting new-trial affidavits when Rule 59(c) applies.
• Preserve complete filing evidence and review any separate appeal deadline.
• Rule 6(a)(4) ordinarily ends electronic filing at midnight in the court’s time zone and other filing when the clerk is scheduled to close. A different time set by statute, local rule or court order can govern.