Rule 58.Entering Judgment

Rule 58(a) requires every judgment and amended judgment to be set out in a separate document, with five specific exceptions: an order disposing of a motion for judgment under Rule 50(b), to amend or make additional findings under Rule 52(b), for attorney's fees under Rule 54, for a new trial or to alter or amend the judgment under Rule 59, or for relief under Rule 60. Rule 58(b) then splits entry of judgment into two tracks. The clerk enters judgment on its own, without waiting for the court's direction, when a jury returns a general verdict, the court awards only costs or a sum certain, or the court denies all relief. Everywhere else — a special verdict, a general verdict with answers to questions, or other relief not covered by those categories — the court must first approve the form of judgment before the clerk enters it.

Rule 58(c) fixes the moment a judgment is treated as entered for purposes of these rules. If no separate document is required, entry happens when the judgment goes into the civil docket under Rule 79(a). If a separate document is required, entry happens at the docket entry and the earlier of two events: the judgment is set out in a separate document, or 150 days run from the docket entry. That 150-day backstop keeps a judgment from remaining forever unentered because no one gets around to preparing the separate document.

Rule 58(d) lets any party request that a judgment be set out in a separate document as Rule 58(a) requires, and Rule 58(e) addresses the interaction between judgment entry and cost or fee disputes. Ordinarily, entry of judgment is not delayed and the time to appeal is not extended just to tax costs or decide a fee request. But when a timely motion for attorney's fees is made under Rule 54(d)(2), the court can act before a notice of appeal takes effect to give that motion the same effect under District of Columbia Court of Appeals Rule 4(a)(4) that a timely Rule 59 motion would have.