Attorneys in the Western District of Virginia received this notice via email today:

Impact of a Government Shut-Down on the District Court: Should Congress fail to enact a continuing resolution by October 1, 2013, the District Court for the Western District of Virginia will manage with its normal business and operations until further notice. All court proceedings will take place as scheduled and the Clerk's Office will be open to file, process and manage cases.

I'm a member of the bar of several other U.S. District Courts, and some of these other courts have issued similar notices.  How long does a shutdown have to last before the courts shutdown?  Let's hope we don't have to find out.