Supreme Court opening brief on the merits: 30 days after order granting review filed

30 days after date the supreme court filed the order granting review, under Cal. Rules of Court, rule 8.520(a)(1).

Rule text

(1) Within 30 days after the Supreme Court files the order of review, the petitioner must serve and file in that court either an opening brief on the merits or the brief it filed in the Court of Appeal.

Cal. Rules of Court, rule 8.520(a)(1), official source

Calculate this deadline

Deadline
Monday, December 7, 2026
  1. Trigger (Date the Supreme Court FILED the order granting review): Friday, November 6, 2026.
  2. Exclude the trigger day and count 30 calendar days: Sunday, December 6, 2026.
  3. That day is a Sunday, so the deadline moves to the next court day: Monday, December 7, 2026 (Cal. Rules of Court, rules 1.10, 8.60(a); Cal. Code Civ. Proc. 12, 12a, 12b).
Rules applied
Cal. Rules of Court, rule 8.520(a)(1)
(1) Within 30 days after the Supreme Court files the order of review, the petitioner must serve and file in that court either an opening brief on the merits or the brief it filed in the Court of Appeal.
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
  • No extension by stipulation; only by order of the Chief Justice under rule 8.60 (8.520(a)(5)). Court may designate the petitioner or change the briefing sequence (8.520(a)(6)). A party relying on its Court of Appeal brief must attach a notice of intent to the cover (8.520(a)(4)). 8.25(b)(3) mailbox rule applies to briefs. Rule last amended eff. Jan. 1, 2011.
  • 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 Supreme Court FILED the order granting review on Monday, March 15, 2027, personal service: due Wednesday, April 14, 2027.

  1. Trigger (Date the Supreme Court FILED the order granting review): Monday, March 15, 2027.
  2. Exclude the trigger day and count 30 calendar days: Wednesday, April 14, 2027.

Notes

No extension by stipulation; only by order of the Chief Justice under rule 8.60 (8.520(a)(5)). Court may designate the petitioner or change the briefing sequence (8.520(a)(6)). A party relying on its Court of Appeal brief must attach a notice of intent to the cover (8.520(a)(4)). 8.25(b)(3) mailbox rule applies to briefs. Rule last amended eff. Jan. 1, 2011.

Related deadlines

All California appeals and writs deadlines

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.