Reviewing court habeas: reply to informal response (15 days)
15 days after date the informal response was filed, under Cal. Rules of Court, rule 8.385(b)(3).
Rule text
(b)(1) Before ruling on the petition, the court may request an informal written response from the respondent, the real party in interest, or an interested person. The court must send a copy of any request to the petitioner. (2) The response must be served and filed within 15 days or as the court specifies. ... (3) If a response is filed, the court must notify the petitioner that a reply may be served and filed within 15 days or as the court specifies. The court may not deny the petition until that time has expired.
Calculate this deadline
- Trigger (Date the informal response was filed): Friday, November 6, 2026.
- Exclude the trigger day and count 15 calendar days: Saturday, November 21, 2026.
- That day is a Saturday, so the deadline moves to the next court day: Monday, November 23, 2026 (Cal. Rules of Court, rules 1.10, 8.60(a); Cal. Code Civ. Proc. 12, 12a, 12b).
Cal. Rules of Court, rule 8.385(b)(3)
(b)(1) Before ruling on the petition, the court may request an informal written response from the respondent, the real party in interest, or an interested person. The court must send a copy of any request to the petitioner. (2) The response must be served and filed within 15 days or as the court specifies. ... (3) If a response is filed, the court must notify the petitioner that a reply may be served and filed within 15 days or as the court specifies. The court may not deny the petition until that time has expired.Official source
Cal. Rules of Court, rules 1.10, 8.60(a); Cal. Code Civ. Proc. 12, 12a, 12b
CRC 1.10(a): "The time in which any act provided by these rules is to be performed is computed by excluding the first day and including the last, unless the last day is a Saturday, Sunday, or other legal holiday, and then it is also excluded." CRC 1.10(b): "Unless otherwise provided by law, if the last day for the performance of any act that is required by these rules to be performed within a specific period of time falls on a Saturday, Sunday, or other legal holiday, the period is extended to and includes the next day that is not a holiday." CRC 8.60(a): "The Code of Civil Procedure governs computing and extending the time to do any act required or permitted under these rules." CCP 12: "The time in which any act provided by law is to be done is computed by excluding the first day, and including the last, unless the last day is a holiday, and then it is also excluded." CCP 12a(a): "If the last day for the performance of any act provided or required by law to be performed within a specified period of time is a holiday, then that period is hereby extended to and including the next day that is not a holiday. For purposes of this section, “holiday” means all day on Saturdays, all holidays specified in Section 135 and, to the extent provided in Section 12b, all days that by terms of Section 12b are required to be considered as holidays." CCP 12b: "If any city, county, state, or public office, other than a branch office, is closed for the whole of any day, insofar as the business of that office is concerned, that day shall be considered as a holiday for the purposes of computing time under Sections 12 and 12a."Official source
- AMBIGUITY: the rule does not name the starting event (the court's notice to petitioner, or the response). Counted from the date the response was filed, the earliest plausible start; check the court's notice, which may specify a date. Supreme Court or Court of Appeal habeas. 'Or as the court specifies': an order setting a different date controls. Rule 8.385 amended effective July 1, 2026.
- If the clerk's office is closed or inaccessible on the last day (weather, emergency or local closure orders), the deadline may be extended. Check local orders.
This calculator applies the cited rules to the dates you enter. It is not legal advice. Court orders, local rules, and case-specific facts can change a deadline; verify before relying on it. Rule set pending attorney review.
Worked example
Date the informal response was filed on Monday, March 15, 2027, personal service: due Tuesday, March 30, 2027.
- Trigger (Date the informal response was filed): Monday, March 15, 2027.
- Exclude the trigger day and count 15 calendar days: Tuesday, March 30, 2027.
Notes
AMBIGUITY: the rule does not name the starting event (the court's notice to petitioner, or the response). Counted from the date the response was filed, the earliest plausible start; check the court's notice, which may specify a date. Supreme Court or Court of Appeal habeas. 'Or as the court specifies': an order setting a different date controls. Rule 8.385 amended effective July 1, 2026.
Related deadlines
- Reviewing court habeas: informal response (15 days) (15 days after)
- Reviewing court habeas: return (30 days after OSC) (30 days after)
- Reviewing court habeas: traverse (30 days after return filed) (30 days after)
Rules current as of 2026-10-23. Confirm against the official source and any local rule or court order before relying on a date. Rules changelog.