Chronology

Aug. 11, 1916	Mildred Madison is born.  She would later become the mother of Colette and Robert "Bobby" Stevenson, the wife of Edward Cowles Stevenson and subsequently Alfred "Freddy" Kassab, and mother-in-law to Jeffrey MacDonald.
Aug. 23, 1916	Joseph Arthur Robert Pierre MacDonald (Jeffrey MacDonald's father) is born.
June 9, 1919	Dorothy "Perry" Lemien is born.  She would later marry "Mac" MacDonald and become the mother of Jay, Judy and Jeffrey MacDonald.
Jan. 19, 1921	Alfred Kassab is born in Montreal, Canada, to wealthy Syrian parents.  He would later become the husband of Mildred Kassab, stepfather to Colette and Bobby Stevenson, and father-in-law to Jeffrey MacDonald.
May 10, 1943	Colette Katherine Stevenson is born to Edward Cowles Stevenson and Mildred Stevenson.  She would later become the wife of Jeffrey MacDonald.
Oct. 12, 1943	Jeffrey MacDonald is born in Jamaica, Queens, New York City, New York, to "Mac" and Dorothy "Perry" MacDonald.  At his confirmation in 1954, he was given the middle name of Robert.
July 6, 1950	Gregory Howard Mitchell is born.  He would later become the boyfriend of Helena Stoeckley, and named by Jeffrey MacDonald's defense teams as a member of the so-called "Stoeckley group."  No evidence of Mitchell's involvement in the murders ever surfaced.
June 7, 1952	Helena Stoeckley is born.  She would later confess and recant her confessions regarding involvement in the MacDonald murders.  No evidence of her involvement ever surfaced.
Spring 1955	Edward Cowles Stevenson, Colette's father, commits suicide by hanging himself from a rafter in the family's garage.
1957	Alfred "Freddy" Kassab meets Mildred Stevenson on Long Island, New York, when Colette is 13 and her brother Bobby is 17.  Kassab, in the process of divorce from his second wife, would become Mildred's husband within a year.
1961	Jeffrey MacDonald enters Princeton University.
Sept. 14, 1963	Upon learning Colette was pregnant with his child, Jeffrey MacDonald and Colette Stevenson are married.
April 18, 1964	Kimberley MacDonald is born at Princeton Hospital in Mercer County, New Jersey.
1964	MacDonald and his family move to Chicago, where he was accepted to Northwestern University Medical School.
March 5, 1966	Robert P. MacDonald (Joseph Arthur Robert Pierre MacDonald), Jeffrey Macdonald's father, dies of pulmonary fibrosis at the age of 48, while Jeffrey MacDonald is a sophomore in medical school.  Known as "Mac" to his friends, drawings related to his work were signed SAM, which he explained stood for "Sore Ass MacDonald."  Although he was born on August 23, 1916, his birthday was celebrated on August 12.
May 8, 1967	Kristen Jean MacDonald, the second daughter of Jeffrey and Colette, is born in Chicago, Illinois.
1968	Following his graduation from medical school, MacDonald completes an internship at the Columbia Presbyterian Medical Center in New York City.
July 1, 1969	Jeffrey MacDonald joins the Army.  The entire family moves to Fort Bragg, North Carolina, where he held the rank of Captain.
Aug. 29, 1969	Captain Jeffrey MacDonald arrives at Fort Bragg, assigned to the Green Berets as Group Surgeon to the 3rd Special Forces Group.  After that group was disbanded approximately three months later, he was assigned to the 6th Special Forces as a Preventative Medical Officer, where his primary duties included responsibility for sanitation of camp latrines and preparation of monthly reports on venereal disease. Shortly after he arrived at Fort Bragg, his father-in-law, Freddy Kassab, drove Colette and the children to join him at their new home on post in the officer's housing at 544 Castle Drive.
Sept. 1969	MacDonald is assigned to the Green Berets as a Group Surgeon to the 3rd Special Forces Group.
Feb. 17, 1970	At 3:42 a.m., dispatchers at Fort Bragg receive an emergency phone call from MacDonald, who reported that "some people have been stabbed" at his residence at 544 Castle Drive. When MPs arrive, they find MacDonald lying on the master bedroom floor with one arm across the body of Colette, and the bodies of Kimberley and Kristen MacDonald in their bedrooms. MacDonald tells medics and MPs that a group of at least four "hippies" attacked him and his family.
Feb. 21, 1970	Funeral services are held for Colette, Kimberley and Kristen MacDonald.
April 6, 1970	Army Criminal Investigation Division (CID) investigators Franz Grebner, Robert Shaw and William Ivory interrogate MacDonald.  After a day of questioning, the Army announces that MacDonald is the prime suspect in the murders. Joe McGinniss, author of Fatal Vision, would later write that MacDonald "could not realize that the account he was about to render would stick to him like tar for years afterward, in all its messy, inconvenient detail, despite his many attempts to cleanse himself of it as his understanding of the physical evidence, and its inplications, increased."
May 1, 1970	The Army formally charges MacDonald with the murder of his family.
July 5, 1970	An Army Article 32 hearing into MacDonald's possible guilt, overseen by Colonel Warren Rock, convenes.  MacDonald is represented by attorney Bernard Segal.
Sept. 11, 1970	Government attorney Clifford Somers and MacDonald's attorney Bernard Segal give their closing arguments at the Article 32 hearing.
Oct. 13, 1970	Colonel Rock issues a report recommending that charges be dismissed against MacDonald because they were "not true," and recommends that civilian authorities investigate Helena Stoeckley.
Late 1970	The Army's Criminal Investigation Division (CID) begins a reinvestigation of the case. During the reinvestigation, 699 people would be interviewed, leads would be pursued in 32 states, and the evidence would be reanalyzed by both the CID and the FBI.  The final 10,000-page report was submitted to the Department of Justice on June 1, 1972.
Dec. 1970	Jeffrey MacDonald receives an honorable discharge from the Army and returns to his home state, New York, where he works as a doctor.
Dec. 15, 1970	MacDonald appears on The Dick Cavett Show, during which he makes jokes and complains about the investigation and its focus on him as a suspect.
Circa Jan. 13, 1971	Jeffrey Robert MacDonald is issued Physician and Surgeon Certificate No. G-19922 by the California Board of Medical Quality Assurance.
March 1971	In the company of U.S. Army investigators, Colette's stepfather, Freddy Kassab, visits the crime scene for several hours in order to test the physical evidence against MacDonald's testimony.  His work convinced him that MacDonald himself had committed the crimes.
July 1971	MacDonald moves to Long Beach, California, where he works as an emergency room physician at the St. Mary Medical Center.
Early 1972	Freddy Kassab and his wife, Mildred (Colette MacDonald's mother) file a citizen's criminal complaint against Jeffrey MacDonald for the murders of Colette, Kimberley and Kristen MacDonald.  It is declared moot because the three murders happened while MacDonald was serving in the U.S. Army, and he was no longer with the Army.
June 1, 1972	A 10,000-page CID reinvestigation report, authored by lead CID investigator Peter Kearns, is submitted to the U. S. Department of Justice.  The report recommends that Jeffrey MacDonald be prosecuted for the murder of his family.
April 30, 1974	Freddy Kassab and his wife, Mildred (Colette MacDonald's mother), aided by Peter Kearns, and the Kassabs' attorney Richard C. Cahn of Huntington, NY, file a citizen's criminal complaint against Jeffrey MacDonald for the murders of Colette, Kimberley and Kristen MacDonald.
Aug. 1974	Grand jury proceedings begin in North Carolina.  The attorney for the U.S. Department of Justice during the hearings is Victor Worheide.
Jan. 25, 1975	A grand jury in North Carolina indicts Jeffrey MacDonald.  Within the hour he is arrested in California.
Jan. 31, 1975	MacDonald is freed on $100,000 bail pending disposition of the charges.
May 23, 1975	MacDonald is arraigned and pleads not guilty to the murders.
July 29, 1975	District Judge Franklin T. Dupree, Jr. denies MacDonald's double jeopardy and speedy trial arguments and allows the trial date of August 18, 1975 to stand.
Aug. 15, 1975	The Fourth Circuit Court of Appeals stays the trial.
Jan. 23, 1976	The Fourt Circuit, in a 2-1 split, orders the indictment to be dismissed on speedy trial grounds.
May 1, 1978	An appeal on behalf of the Government leads to an 8-0 reinstatement of the indictment by the U.S. Supreme Court.  The Court holds that an interlocutory appeal cannot be used as a vehicle to bring a speedy trial claim. The Court remands the case to the Fourth Circuit for consideration of MacDonald's double jeopardy claim.
Oct. 27, 1978	The Fourth Circuit rejects MacDonald's double jeopardy claim, holding that it failed because no adjudication of guilt or innocence on the merits took place at the 1970 Article 32 hearing.
March 19, 1979	The U.S. Supreme Court refuses to review the October 27, 1978 decision of the Fourth Circuit Court of Appeals.
ca. June, 1979	MacDonald chooses Joe McGinniss to write a book about the case.
July 16, 1979	The trial of United States vs. Jeffrey MacDonald beings in Raleigh, North Carolina, with Judge Franklin Dupree presiding.  MacDonald is represented by attorneys Bernard Segal and Wade Smith.  Attorneys for the Government are Brian Murtagh and James Blackburn. An agreement between attorney Bernard Segal and publisher Sterling Lord is signed, granting exclusive rights to the life story of Jeffrey MacDonald to author Joe McGinniss.
Aug. 29, 1979	Jeffrey MacDonald is convicted of one count of first-degree murder in the death of Kristen MacDonald, and two counts of second-degree murder in the deaths of Colette and Kimberley MacDonald.  The jury deliberated for just over six hours. Judge Dupree immediately sentenced to life in prison for each of the three murders, to be served consecutively.  He also revokes MacDonald's bail.
Sept. 28, 1979	Jeffrey MacDonald files a motion in the Fourth Circuit Court of Appeals for admission to bail pending appeal.
Oct. 16, 1979	The U.S. Government files a brief in opposition to MacDonald's September 28, 1979 motion for bail pending appeal.
Nov. 16, 1979	The Fourth Circuit Court of Appeals issues an order denying Jeffrey MacDonald's motion for release pending review and that the hearing of the appeal be expedited.
July 29, 1980	The Fourth Circuit Court of Appeals reverses MacDonald's conviction in a 2-1 split on the grounds that the nine-year delay in bringing him to trial violated his Sixth Amendment rights to a speedy trial.
Aug. 22, 1980	Jeffrey MacDonald is freed on $100,000 bail.  He subsequently returns to work at St. Mary's Medical Center in Long Beach, California as the Director of Emergency Medicine.
Dec. 18, 1980	The Fourth Circuit Court split 5-5 to hear the case en banc and thus the July 29, 1980 decision stood.
May 26, 1981	The United States Supreme Court accepts the case for consideration.
Dec. 7, 1981	The United States Supreme Court hears oral arguments.
March 31, 1982	The United States Supreme Court ruls 6-3 that MacDonald's rights to a speedy trial had not been violated. MacDonald is rearrested and returns to Federal prison and his original sentence of three consecutive life terms is reinstated with time already served since his 1979 conviction.
Spring 1982	Defense lawyers file a new motion for MacDonald to be freed on bail pending appeal.  The Fourth Circuit denies the motion.
June 3, 1982	Greg Mitchell (boyfriend of Helena Stoeckley in 1970) dies of liver failure.
June 9, 1982	MacDonald's remaining points of appeal are heard by the Fourth Circuit Court of Appeals.
Aug. 16, 1982	The Fourth Circuit Court of Appeals unanimously affirms MacDonald's conviction.
Jan. 10, 1983	A further appeal to the U.S. Supreme Court is denied.
Jan. 14, 1983	Helena Stoeckley, aged 32, is found dead in her small apartment.  She had apparently been dead for several days.  An autopsy revealed that she died of pneumonia and cirrhosis of the liver. Although he did not recognize her picture in 1970 nor in 1979, MacDonald claimed that Stoeckley was one of the "intruders" who had attacked his family.
Spring 1983	McGinniss' book, Fatal Vision, is first published.  It portrayed MacDonald as a sociopath who was indeed guilty of killing his family. In 1987, MacDonald would sue McGinniss for fraud over the publication of the book.
1983	Jeffrey MacDonald's licenses to practice medicine in New York and North Carolina are revoked.
July 28, 1983	Jeffrey MacDonald's license to practice medicine in California is revoked by the California Board of Medical Quality Assurance.
April 3, 1984	MacDonald's defense team files a motion to vacate sentence.
April 4, 1984	MacDonald's defense team files a motion for new trial.
Aug. 20, 1984	Jeffrey MacDonald files a civil complaint against author Joe McGinniss and a demand for jury trial.
March 1, 1985	Judge Franklin Dupree denies all defense motions for a new trial.
May 31, 1985	Jeffrey MacDonald appeals Judge Dupree's denial of his motion for a new trial.
Oct. 7, 1985	The Fourth Circuit Court of Appeals hears arguments re: Jeffrey MacDonald appeal for a new trial.
Dec. 17, 1985	The Fourth Circuit Court of Appeals affirms Judge Dupree's denial of Jeffrey MacDonald's appeal for a new trial.
Oct. 6, 1986	The Supreme Court upholds the Fourth Circuit's decision affirming Judge Dupree's denial of Jeffrey MacDonald's appeal for a new trial.
July 7, 1987	The civil trial of Jeffrey MacDonald vs. Joe McGinniss begins.  MacDonald claims fraud; that McGinniss pretended to believe MacDonald innocent after he came to the conclusion that MacDonald was guilty, in order to continue MacDonald's cooperation with him.
Aug. 21, 1987	A mistrial is declared in the case of Jeffrey MacDonald vs. Joe McGinniss.
Nov. 23, 1987	McGinniss and MacDonald settle out of court for $325,000.
1987	Mildred Kassab sues Jeffrey MacDonald over proceeds from Joe McGinniss's book Fatal Vision.
Dec. 1988	Mildred Kassab offers to settle her lawsuit against Jeffrey MacDonald for the $325,000 he received from Joe McGinniss. According to one news report, "Under terms of the proposed settlement, Mildred Kassab would turn the money -- now impounded by the Los Angeles Superior Court -- over to United Way of America to honor her slain daughter, Colette, and granddaughters Kimberly and Kristen." After four days of trial, the judge decides that the settlement would be divided between MacDonald's attorneys ($104,000), MacDonald's mother ($93,000) Mildred Kassab ($80,000K) and the remainder would go to Jeffrey MacDonald.
Feb. 10, 1991	Perry MacDonald, Jeffrey MacDonald's mother, dies at the age of 71.
March 27, 1991	MacDonald becomes eligible for parole, but does not apply, continuing to vehemently maintain his innocence.
Oct. 19, 1990	Jeffrey MacDonald files Brief in Support of 28 U.S.C. Section 2255 Petition Seeking Relief from Conviction Obtained by the Suppression of Exculpatory Evidence
Feb. 10, 1991	Dorothy "Perry" MacDonald dies.
July 8, 1991	After hearing arguments that MacDonald should be granted a new murder trial on the grounds of prosecutorial misconduct, Judge Dupree denies the petition.
Oct. 3, 1991	MacDonald's defense counsel appeals Judge Dupree's ruling on the grounds of judicial bias due to Dupree's rulings in favor of the prosecution during the trial, and of the harshness of MacDonald's prison sentence that Dupree imposed.  The appeal was denied.
June 2, 1992	The Fourth Circuit Court of Appeals rules against a new trial for MacDonald, stating that the materials now introduced should have been presented by MacDonald's then-lawyer, Brian O'Neill, in the 1984-1985 appeal, and therefore, all rights to further appeals were forfeited.
Nov. 30, 1992	The U.S. Supreme Court upholds the June 2, 1992 Fourth Circuit ruling denying MacDonald's motion for a new trial.
Jan. 19, 1994	Mildred Kassab, Colette MacDonald's mother, dies.
Oct. 24, 1994	Alfred "Freddy" Kassab, Colette MacDonald's stepfather, dies.
1995	Two of MacDonald's supporters, Jerry Allen Potter and Fred Bost, publish Fatal Justice, a book meant to both refute McGinniss's book Fatal Vision and present the evidence they claimed had been hidden by government prosecutors.  Close scrutiny by avid case researchers would find the book to be filled with factual errors and misrepresentations.
Dec. 17, 1995	Judge Dupree dies after a short illness.
1997	The Fourth Circuit Court of Appeals grants MacDonald the right to pursue DNA tests on limited hair and blood evidence chosen by the defense.
December, 2000	DNA testing begins on limited hair and blood evidence chosen by the defense.
Aug. 30, 2002	Jeffrey MacDonald marries Kathryn Kurich.
May 10, 2005	A hearing is held regarding MacDonald's application for parole.  During the hearing, he did not admit guilt and argued that he is "factually innocent."  His parole request was immediately denied.  His next scheduled parole hearing will be in May 2020.
April 27, 2005	Retired U.S. Marshal Jimmy Britt, who worked as such during the trial. files for bankruptcy.
Nov. 3, 2005	Retired U.S. Marshal Jimmy Britt files an affidavit claiming that he heard the material witness in the case, Helena Stoeckley, admit to the prosecutor of the case, James Blackburn, that she was present at the MacDonald residence at the time of the murders and that Blackburn threatened her with prosecution if she testified.
Jan. 12, 2006	Jeffrey MacDonald is granted leave to file his fourth appeal based on the Jimmy Britt affidavit.
Jan. 17, 2006	Jeffrey MacDonald files a § 2255 motion in the District Court of North Carolina, alleging Fifth Amendment due process violations based on the newly discovered evidence of former Deputy U.S. Marshal Jimmy Britt.
March 22, 2006	Without seeking or obtaining additional prefiling authorization, Jeffrey MacDonald files a motion in the District Court to add an additional predicate to the § motion (the "DNA motion").
March 10, 2006	The Armed Forces Institute of Pathhology (AFIP) issues a report containing the results of DNA testing.  The results show no matches to any hair of Helena Stoeckley or Greg Mitchell, and that the "mystery hair" found in Colette MacDoanld's hand -- which MacDonald had always claimed belonged to the murderer -- was his own. MacDonald's DNA profile also matched body hairs found on the multi-colored bedspread from the master bed and on the top sheet of Kristen MacDonald's bed.  A hair found in Colette's right palm was sourced as her own.  Three hairs, one from the bedsheet, one found in Colette's body outline in the area of her legs, and one found beneath the fingernail of Kristen, did not match the DNA profile of any MacDonald family member or known suspect.
March 23, 2006	MacDonald files a motion to expand the appeal to include all the evidence amassed at trial, evidence which he claims was discovered subsequent to the trial (for example, statements of individuals to whom Stoeckely had made confessions) and the DNA results completed in 2006.
March 30, 2006	The Government files a motion to strike exhibits submitted in connection with MacDonald's petition for relief under 28 U.S.C. § 2255, and for additional relief.
April 16, 2007	MacDonald's attorneys file an affidavit of Helena Stoeckley's mother, in which she states that her daughter confessed to her twice that she was at the MacDonald residence on the evening of the murders and that she was afraid of the prosecutors.
Oct. 19, 2008	Retired U.S. Marshal Jimmy Britt dies.
Nov. 4, 2008	Judge Fox issues an order denying MacDonald's motion regarding the statement of Britt.  This denial was based on the merits of the claim, generally that Stoeckley was unreliable, as she had made many varying statements regarding the murders.  Also, that MacDonald's claim that she was expected to testify in a manner favorable to him until threatened by Blackburn is contradicted by the trial records.  MacDonald's motions regarding the DNA results and the statement of Helena Stoeckley's mother were also denied. The denial of these two motions was based on jurisdiction issues, specifically that MacDonald had not obtained the required pre-filing authorization from the Circuit Court for these motions to the District Court. The order also granted the Government's March 30, 2006 motion to strike exhibits.
Nov. 24, 2008	The Government files a motion to modify Judge Fox's November 4, 2008 decision, to reflect that Jimmy Britt's claims were not factual.  Included with the motion was jail documentation establishing that Stoeckley was originally confined to the jail in Pickens, South Carolina, not Greenville, South Carolina, as Britt had claimed.  Also included were custody commitment and release forms indicating that agents other than Britt transported Stoeckley to the trial.
Dec. 2008	MacDonald appeals to the Fourth Circuit to reverse Judge Fox's November 4, 2008 ruling.
Jan. 9, 2009	Judge Fox denies the Government's motion for modification of his November 4, 2008 order.
May 6, 2010	The Fourth Circuit Court of Appeals denies the Government's motion to dismiss MacDonald's appeal, and directs the Government and defense to file supplemental briefs.
April 19, 2011	The Fourth Circuit Court of Appeals reverses the District Court's November 4, 2008 decision, remanding MacDonald's claims back to the District Court with instructions for consideration.
June 23, 2011	Judge Fox issues an order re: scheduling and notice of a status conference to be held July 28, 2011 in connection with matters on remand from the Fourth Circuit Court of Appeals.
July 15, 2011	Jeffrey MacDonald files a motion to delay the status conference.
July 19, 2011	Judge Fox grants MacDonald's motion to delay the status conference.
Aug. 12, 2011	Bernard Segal dies at age 81.  He had successfully represented MacDonald at the Article 32 hearing in the summer of 1970, and again represented him during the 1979 criminal trial, losing that case.
2011	MacDonald is transferred from federal prison in Cumberland, Maryland to the New Hanover County jail in Wilmington, North Carolina, to await upcoming evidentiary hearings in his appeal.
Sep. 20, 2011	Jeffrey MacDonald files a request for an evidentiary hearing on the § 2255 Britt claim.
Sept. 21, 2011	The status conference takes place.
Sept. 30, 2011	Jeffrey MacDonald files a motion to delay the evidentiary hearing he had requested on September 20, 2011, re: the § 2255 Britt claim.
Oct. 6, 2011	Judge Fox grants Jeffrey MacDonald's motion to delay the evidentiary hearing.
Oct. 10, 2011	Having been unsuccessful in incorporating a motion regarding the DNA results into his motion regarding the claims of Britt, Jeffrey MacDonald files a list of trial exhibits for additional DNA Testing.
Dec. 6, 2011	MacDonald files a motion for a copy of the trial transcript at Government expense.
Dec. 7, 2011	Judge Fox grants MacDonald's motion for a copy of the trial transcript at Government expense.
Dec. 12, 2011	The Government files its response to Jeffrey MacDonald's motion for a new trial.
Dec. 13, 2011	The Government files its response to Jeffrey MacDonald's motion for additional DNA testing. The Government also files a response to MacDonald's reuest for a hearing.
Feb. 17, 2012	MacDonald files a reply to the Government's response to his motion for a new trial.  He also files a reply in support of his motion for additional DNA testing.
March 30, 2012	Jeffrey MacDonald files another motion to delay the evidentiary hearing re: the "Britt Claim."
April 2, 2012	Judge Fox grants MacDonald's motion to delay the evidentiary hearing re: the "Britt Claim."
April 18, 2012	Judge Fox issues an order delaying the hearing on the "Britt Claim" until August 20-31, 2012, and allowing the Government to file a sur-reply on or before May 10, 2012 re: a proposed hearing on MacDonald's requests for new DNA testing.
June 8, 2012	Judge Fox issues an order setting conditions for oral argument on MacDonald's § 2255 "unsourced hairs claim and the motion for additional DNA testing.
July 5, 2012	Jeffrey MacDonald files a motion to extend the time to file a joint proposed schedule. The Government files a response to MacDonald's motion.
July 6, 2012	Judge Fox denies MacDonald's motion to extend time to file joint proposed schedule. The Government files its joint proposed schedule.
July 13, 2012	MacDonald files another motion to delay the evidentiary hearing, with .
July 16, 2012	The Government files a response to MacDonald's motion to delay the evidentiary hearing. Judge Fox grants MacDonald's motion to delay the evidentiary hearing, and sets a new hearing date of September 17, 2012.
Sept. 17, 2012	The evidentiary hearing begins.
Sept. 25, 2012	The final day of the evidentiary hearing.
Jan. 10, 2013	MacDonald files an unopposed motion to extend the time to file his post-hearing memorandum. Judge Fox grants the motion the same day.
Feb. 8, 2013	MacDonald files a second motion to extend the time to file his post-hearing memorandum.
Feb. 11, 2013	Judge Fox grants MacDonald's second motion to extend the time to file his post-hearing memorandum.
March 19, 2013	MacDonald files a motion for a one-week extension of time to file his post-hearing memorandum. Judge Fox grants the motion.
April 1, 2013	MacDonald files a motion for a one-day extension of time to file his post-hearing memorandum. Judge Fox grants the motion. MacDonald files his post-hearing memorandum.
June 10, 2013	MacDonald's defense files a substitute post-hearing memorandum.
July 1, 2013	The Government files its post-hearing memorandum.
July 8, 2013	MacDonald's defense files a motion for leave to reply to the Government's post-hearing memorandum. Judge Fox grants the motion, but also orders that the government will have the opportunity to file a sur-reply.
Aug. 22, 2013	After having asked for and received two extensions of time to file, the defense files reply to the government's post-hearing memorandum.
Sept. 23, 2013	The Government files a Sur-Reply to the defense's response to the government's post-hearing memorandum.
July 24, 2014	District Court Judge Fox files an Order and Judgment denying Jeffrey MacDonald's Motion to Vacate Under 28 U.S.C. § 2255.
Aug. 8, 2014	District Court Judge Fox files an Order denying Jeffrey MacDonald's Motion Pursuant to the Innocence Protection Act of 2004, 18 U.S.C. § 3600, for New Trial Based on DNA Testing Results and Other Relief.
Aug. 21, 2014	The defense files a motion asking Judge Fox to alter or amend his judgment.
Sept. 11, 2014	The government files a response to the defense's Aug. 21 motion.
Sept. 23, 2014	The government submits a Notice of Filing relating to Jeffrey MacDonald's Pending Rule 59(e) Motion.  Included are attachments showing their receipt of a Sept. 17, 2014 letter from Norman Wong (DOJ) to Thomas Walker (U.S. Attorney), an FBI document dated Aug. 15, 2014 and titled "Microscopic Hair Comparison Analysis: Result of Review," and copies of the FBI''s supporting documents.
Sept. 25, 2014	The defense files a reply to the Government's Response to Motion to Alter or Amend Judgment.
Sept. 26, 2014	The government files a Motion for Supplemental Briefing on Movant's Rule 59(e) Motion.
Oct. 7, 2014	The defense files a Notice of Appeal to the United States Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit from an order denying Defendant's request for DNA testing pursuant to the Innocence Protection Act (18 U.S.C. § 3600). Christine Mumma files a motion to withdraw as attorney for Jeffrey MacDonald, which is granted the following day.
Oct. 22, 2014	Jeffrey MacDonald's appeal 14-7543 for additional DNA testing is opened in the Fourth Circuit court.  His brief is due by Nov. 17.
Nov. 13, 2014	Judge Fox files an Order on Jeffrey MacDonald's Motion to Alter or Amend Judgement and Motion for Supplemental Briefing, relating to the FBI review (see Sept. 23, 2014).
Nov. 25, 2014	Jeffrey MacDonald files a motion in the Fourth Circuit Court of Appeals, requesting an extension of time until January 17, 2015 to file his brief.  The same day, the court allows the extension, but orders that the brief is due no later than December 26, 2014.
Dec. 29, 2014	In the District Court, the defense files an unopposed motion to extend the time to file a Supplemental Memorandum.  The motion is granted the following day.
Jan. 6, 2015	Jeffrey MacDonald fails to file his brief to the Fourth Circuit Court of Appeals, which was due by Dec. 26.  The court issues a notice of default and possible dismissal of appeal to Jeffrey MacDonald. In the District Court, MacDonald files his Supplemental Memorandum Supporting Motion to Alter or Amend Judgment.
Jan. 27, 2015	Jeffrey MacDonald files a motion in the Fourth Circuit Court of Appeals, again requesting an extension of time to file his informal opening brief. The court allows the extension, ordering that the brief is due no later than Feb. 9, 2015, and that no further requests for extensions of time delays will be granted.
Feb. 9, 2015	Jeffrey MacDonald fails to file his informal opening brief with the Fourth Circuit Court of Appeals by this deadline. A notice of Appearance of Counsel William Palmer as attorney for Jeffrey MacDonald is filed.
Feb. 10, 2015	The Fourth Circuit issues a new Briefing Order, stating that MacDonald's opening brief and appendix is due by March 17, 2015.
Feb. 12, 2015	In the District Court, the government files its Response to Movant's Supplemental Memorandum Supporting Rule 59(e) Motion (re: the so-called "FBI Review"), with supporting attachments.
Feb. 20, 2015	A notice of Appearance of Counsel Brian Murtagh as attorney for the Government is filed in the Fourth Circuit Court of Appeals.
March 17, 2015	Jeffrey MacDonald again fails to file his opening brief (due this day) in the Fourth Circuit Court of Appeals, and again asks for an extension of time to file. The Court grants the motion, ordering that the opening brief and appendix be filed no later than April 16, 2015.
April 16, 2015	Again, Jeffrey MacDonald fails to file his opening brief (due this day) in the Fourth Circuit Court of Appeals, and again asks for an extension of time to file. The Court allows a delay, ordering that the opening brief and appendix be filed no later than May 18, 2015, and admonishing that "Any further request for an extension of time in which to file the opening brief and joint appendix shall be disfavored."
May 18, 2015	Jeffrey MacDonald once again fails to meet the deadline for filing his opening brief (due this day) for his appeal opened Oct. 22, 2014 regarding additional DNA testing.  He asks for yet another extension of time to file. The Court grants the motion, ordering that the opening brief and appendix be filed no later than April 16, 2015.
May 18, 2015	In the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of North Carolina, Judge James Fox issues an order denying Jeffrey MacDonald's Motion to Alter or Amend Judge Fox's July 24, 2014 judgment. This ostensibly puts an end to MacDonald's pleadings in the District Court, although it is likely he will appeal this issue to the Fourth Circuit.
May 20, 2015	The Fourth Circuit Court once again grants Jeffrey MacDonald's motion for an extension of time in which to file his opening brief and appendix for his appeal for additional DNA testing.  The Court orders that they be filed no later than June 17, 2015, and once again states that no further requests for extensions of time will be granted.
June 17, 2015	Jeffrey MacDonald again fails to meet the deadline for filing his opening brief and appendix (due this day) in the Fourth Circuit Court of Appeals, regarding his appeal opened Oct. 22, 2014 asking for additional DNA testing.  He asks for an extension of time until August 31, or alternatively until June 29, 2015.
June 18, 2015	The Fourth Circuit Court of Appeals once again grants the motion by Jeffrey MacDonald for an extension of time in which to file his opening brief and appendix regarding his appeal for additional DNA testing.  The Court orders that the opening brief and appendix be filed no later than June 29, 2015.
June 29, 2015	Jeffrey MacDonald again fails to meet the deadline for filing his opening brief and appendix (due this day) in the Fourth Circuit Court of Appeals. Instead, a motion is filed asking that the court allow his attorney, William Palmer, to withdraw, or, alternatively, to grant a 120-day extension should the motion to withdraw be denied.
June 30, 2015	The Fourth Circuit Court of Appeals files an order granting Jeffrey MacDonald's motion to withdraw William Palmer as his attorney. The court issues a second Order, stating that MacDonald's opening brief and appendix re: MacDonald's appeal 14-7543, is due by July 24, 2015, or his appeal will be subject to dismissal.
July 20, 2015	Jeffrey MacDonald opens an appeal (15-7136) to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit from the order and final judgment of the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of North Carolina, which entered an order on July 24, 2014, denying MacDonald's motion to vacate, under 28 U.S.C. § 2255.
July 24, 2015	Jeffrey MacDonald again fails to meet the deadline for filing his opening brief and appendix (due this day) in the Fourth Circuit Court of Appeals, regarding his appeal 14-7543 for additional DNA testing.
July 27, 2015	The Fourth Circuit Court of Appeals issues a notice of default and possible dismissal of appeal to Jeffrey MacDonald for failure to file his informal opening brief and appendix for his appeal for additional DNA testing (opened Oct. 22, 2014).  The court orders that the brief and appendix be filed no later than Aug. 11, 2015.
Aug. 10, 2015	Joseph Zeszotarski appears as counsel for Jeffrey MacDonald's appeal 15-7136 to the Fourth Circuit from the U.S. District Court's order denying MacDonald's motion to vacate. As his first order of business, Zeszotarski files a motion to extend the filing time for his Informal Opening Brief, which the Fourth Circuit had ordered filed by Aug. 14, 2015. The court grants the motion, and orders the brief to be filed no later than Sept. 28, 2015.
Aug. 11, 2015	Jeffrey MacDonald again fails to meet the deadline for filing his opening brief and appendix (due this day) in the Fourth Circuit Court of Appeals, regarding his appeal for additional DNA testing (opened Oct. 22, 2014).
Aug. 24, 2015	Despite having been granted seven extensions of time to file his informal opening brief and appendix, Jeffrey MacDonald files yet another motion in his appeal 14-7543 for additional DNA testing, asking the 4th Circuit to once again extend the filing deadline. The government files a response/answer, asking that the motion be denied.
Aug. 25, 2015	The Fourth Circuit Court of Appeals denies MacDonald's motion to extend the time to file his informal opening brief for his appeal 14-7543 regarding additional DNA testing.  Despite this denial, the Court states that the appeal will be dismissed at 5:00 p.m. on Sept. 14, 2015, unless the brief is received, thereby effectively giving MacDonald additional time in which to file.
Sept. 14, 2015	At 6:01 p.m., more than an hour past the final filing deadline of 5:00 p.m., Jeffrey MacDonald files a two-page informal opening brief in the Fourth Circuit re: his appeal 14-7543 for additional DNA testing.  In it, he claims that the appeal is not untimely, and that the government has refused to allow testing on blood evidence.
Sept. 15, 2015	Joseph Zeszotarski, counsel for Jeffrey MacDonald's appeal 15-7136 to the Fourth Circuit from the U.S. District Court's order denying MacDonald's motion to vacate, files a motion to again extend the filing time for his informal opening brief, which the Fourth Circuit had ordered filed by Sept. 28, 2015.
Sept. 16, 2015	The Fourth Circuit grants MacDonald's motion to extend the filing time for his informal opening brief re: MacDonald's appeal 15-7136, and orders the brief to be filed no later than Nov. 12, 2015.
Sept. 30, 2015	Once again overlooking the fact that Jeffrey MacDonald did not meet the Fourth Circuit Court's Sept. 14 deadline, and filed his informal opening brief (re: appeal 14-7543 for additional DNA testing) until after the 5:00 deadline, the Court does not dismiss the appeal as they had said they would do. The U.S. files a motion to extend the time for filing their response to Jeffrey MacDonald's informal opening brief. The Court grants the motion, and orders that the government file their response by Oct. 27, 2015.
Oct. 1, 2015	Jeffrey MacDonald files a motion to submit a corrected informal opening brief re: appeal 14-7543 for additional DNA testing, and submits the corrected brief, to replace his brief filed after the deadline on Sept. 14. The Court grants the motion.
Oct. 27, 2015	The government files their informal response to Jeffrey MacDonald's informal opening brief re: his appeal 14-7543 for additional DNA testing.
Nov. 12, 2015	Jeffrey MacDonald files his Informal Opening Brief re: his appeal 15-7136 to the Fourth Circuit from the U.S. District Court's order denying MacDonald's motion to vacate.
Nov. 16, 2015	Despite the 4th Circuit's order that any reply brief be filed by Nov. 6, 2015, Jeffrey MacDonald files a motion to extend the filing time for his informal reply brief re: appeal 14-7543 for additional DNA testing. The court grants the motion, and orders that Macdonald's reply brief be filed by Dec. 15, 2015.
Dec. 18, 2015	Three days after the 4th Circuit's final Dec. 15, 2015 deadline, MacDonald files his Response Brief re: his appeal 14-7543 for additional DNA testing.  His signature is entered by Kathryn MacDonald as power of attorney, contrary to the Court's instructions that he must sign the brief himself. MacDonald submits a copy of the book Fatal Justice by Jerry Allen Potter and Fred Bost as his only exhibit. The court issues a docket correction request to MacDonald, stating that his brief cannot be signed by anyone other than MacDonald himself.
Dec. 29, 2015	An Index of References is filed, relating to MacDonald's Response Brief re: appeal 14-7543 for additional DNA testing.
Jan. 4, 2016	17 days after the 4th Circuit requests that MacDonald submit his Response Brief with his own signature (re: appeal 14-7543 for addtional DNA testing), MacDonald finally files the requested correction.
March 31, 2016	The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit affirms the District Court's denial of Jeffrey MacDonald's motion for additional DNA testing.
April 4, 2016	The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit grants a certificate of appealability to Jeffrey MacDonald re: appeal 15-7136 from U.S. District Court's order denying MacDonald's motion to vacate. A briefing schedule is issued, ordering that: Opening Brief and Appendix due 05/16/2016; Response brief due 06/16/2016, and; Reply brief permitted within 14 days of service of response brief
April 20, 2016	Jeffrey MacDonald files a motion to proceed with a deferred appendix (FRAP 30(c)), re: appeal 15-7136 from U.S. District Court's order denying MacDonald's motion to vacate. The Fourth Circuit grants the motion, and issues a briefing schedule ordering that: Opening Brief due 05/31/2016; Response Brief due 07/05/2016; Appendix under FRAP 30(c) due 07/19/2016, and; All Briefs in Final Form due 13 days after FRAP 30(c) Appendix served
April 22, 2016	The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit issues its Mandate. referencing the Judgment Order and Unpublished per curiam Opinion (March 31, 2016) affirming District Court's denial of Jeffrey MacDonald's motion for additional DNA testing.
May 17, 2016	The government files Appearances of Counsel in the Fourth Circuit for Jennifer May-Parker, John Stuart Bruce, and Leslie K. Cooley, re: MacDonald's appeal 15-7136.
May 18, 2016	Jeffrey MacDonald files a motion in the Fourth Circuit to extend filing time for his Page-Proof Opening Brief. Date and method of service, re: appeal 15-7136.
May 19, 2016	The Fourth Circuit grants Jeffrey MacDonald's motion to extend filing time, re: appeal 15-7136. The Court updates its Rule 30(c) briefing order deadlines: Page-Proof Opening Brief due: 06/07/2016; Page-Proof Response Brief due: 07/12/2016; Appendix under FRAP 30(c) due: 07/26/2016
June 7, 2016	Jeffrey MacDonald files his Page-Proof Opening Brief. re: appeal 15-7136.
July 6, 2016	The government files an unopposed motion for a 35-day extension of time within which to file Page-Proof Responsive Brief re: MacDonald's appeal 15-7136.
July 7, 2016	The Fourth Circuit grants the government's motion for an extension of time within which to file Page-Proof Responsive Brief re: appeal 15-7136, and orders the following: FRAP 30(c) page-proof response brief & service of additional designations due: 08/02/2016; Appendix due: 08/16/2016; Opening brief, response brief, and any reply brief in final form due: 08/29/2016
Aug. 3, 2016	The government files its Page-Proof Responsive Brief re: MacDonald's appeal 15-7136.
Aug. 16, 2016	Jeffrey MacDonald files his full appendix and full paper appendix re: appeal 15-7136.
Aug. 24, 2016	Jeffrey MacDonald files a motion to extend the filing time for his Final Form Opening Brief, Response Brief, and any Reply Brief until 09/06/2016 re: appeal 15-7136.
Aug. 25, 2016	The Fourth Circuit grants MacDonald's motion to extend filing time for his Final Form Opening Brief, Response Brief, and any Reply Brief until 09/06/2016 re: appeal 15-7136.
Sept. 6, 2016	The Fourth Circuit receives filings from the U.S. and Jeffrey MacDonald, re: appeal 15-7136: Response Brief by U.S. Reply Brief by Jeffrey MacDonald Corrected Response Brief by U.S. Opening Brief by Jeffrey MacDonald
November 2016	The Fourth Circuit calendars appeal 15-7136 for oral arguments 01/26/17.
Jan. 26, 2017	The Fourth Circuit hears oral arguments from Joseph Zeszotarski (attorney for Jeffrey MacDonald) and John Stuart Bruce (attorney for U.S.)
Dec. 21, 2018	The Fourth Circuit issues its opinion affirming the U.S. Distrit Court's order denying Jeffrey MacDonald's motion to vacate.
Feb. 4, 2019	Jeffrey MacDonald files a petition for a rehearing en banc in the Fourth Circuit, re: the Court's opinion affirming the U.S. Distrit Court's order denying his motion to vacate.
Feb. 5, 2019	The Fourth Circuit stays its mandate pending its ruling on MacDonald's petition for rehearing en banc.
Feb. 19, 2019	The Fourth Circuit denies Jeffrey MacDonald's petition for rehearing en banc.
Feb. 27, 2019	The Fourth Circuit issues its final Mandate, effectively ending the long legal battles in the Jeffrey MacDonald case.