Rule 45. Duties of Clerk

(a) General Provisions. The Clerk shall take the oath required by law. Neither the Clerk nor any deputy clerk may practice as an attorney or counselor in any court while continuing in office. The Court will be deemed always open for the purpose of filing any proper paper, of issuing and returning process, and of making motions and orders. The office of the Clerk, with the Clerk or a deputy clerk in attendance, will be open during business hours on all days except Saturdays, Sundays, and legal holidays (as defined in Rule 26(a)) from 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. A night box will be available at the entrance to the Public Office from 4:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. on such business days.

(b) The Docket; Calendar; Other Records Required. The Clerk shall:

(1) maintain a docket containing a record of all papers filed with the Clerk, and all process, orders, and judgments;

(2) maintain an index of cases contained in the docket;

(3) prepare, under the direction of the Court, a calendar of cases submitted or awaiting argument; and

(4) keep such other books and records as may be required by the Court.

(c) Notice of Orders. Immediately upon the entry of an order, the Clerk shall serve a copy on each party to the proceeding, together with a copy of any opinion respecting the order, and shall note the date of service in the docket.

(d) Custody of Records and Papers. The Clerk shall have custody of the records and papers of the Court. The Clerk shall not permit any original record or paper to be taken from the Clerk's custody except as authorized by the United States Supreme Court, the United States Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit, or this Court. Original papers transmitted as the record on appeal will be returned upon disposition of the case. The Clerk shall preserve copies of briefs and appendices and other printed papers filed.

(e) Court Seal. The Clerk shall be the custodian of the seal of the Court. The seal will appear as ordered by the Court. The seal will be the means of authentication of all records and certificates and process issued from this Court.

(f) Schedule of Fees. The Clerk shall maintain in the Public Office a schedule of fees approved by the Court.

(g) Motions. The Clerk may act on motions, if consented to or unopposed, that seek to:

(1) dismiss an appeal or an application for extraordinary relief with or without prejudice to reinstate it;

(2) remand a case;

(3) reinstate a case that was dismissed for failure to comply with the rules;

(4) extend the time for taking any action required or permitted by the rules or an order of the Court, unless the motion is made after the time limit has elapsed;

(5) consolidate appeals;

(6) withdraw or substitute an appearance; or

(7) correct a brief or other paper.

(h) Construction of Rules in Self-Representation Cases. The Clerk shall liberally construe the rules as they apply to appellants representing themselves.