Preliminary examination: 60-day outer limit

60 days after date of arraignment on the felony complaint, plea, or reinstatement of proceedings, under Cal. Pen. Code 859b.

Rule text

The magistrate shall dismiss the complaint if the preliminary examination is set or continued more than 60 days from the date of the arraignment, plea, or reinstatement of criminal proceedings pursuant to Chapter 6 (commencing with Section 1367) of Title 10 of Part 2, unless the defendant personally waives his or her right to a preliminary examination within the 60 days.

Cal. Pen. Code 859b, official source

Calculate this deadline

Deadline
Tuesday, January 5, 2027
  1. Trigger (Date of arraignment on the felony complaint, plea, or reinstatement of proceedings): Friday, November 6, 2026.
  2. Exclude the trigger day and count 60 calendar days: Tuesday, January 5, 2027.
Rules applied
Cal. Pen. Code 859b
The magistrate shall dismiss the complaint if the preliminary examination is set or continued more than 60 days from the date of the arraignment, plea, or reinstatement of criminal proceedings pursuant to Chapter 6 (commencing with Section 1367) of Title 10 of Part 2, unless the defendant personally waives his or her right to a preliminary examination within the 60 days.
Official source
Cal. Code Civ. Proc. 12, 12a, 10; Gov. Code 6800, 6804, 6806; Cal. Rules of Court, rule 1.10 (for periods set by the Rules of Court)
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.(b) This section applies to Sections 659, 659a, and 921, and to all other provisions of law providing or requiring an act to be performed on a particular day or within a specified period of time, whether expressed in this or any other code or statute, ordinance, rule, or regulation." CCP 10: "Holidays within the meaning of this code are every Sunday and any other days that are specified or provided for as judicial holidays in Section 135." Gov. Code 6800: "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." Gov. Code 6804: "“Month” means a calendar month, unless otherwise expressed." Gov. Code 6806: "A day is the period of time between any midnight and the midnight following." 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."
Official source
  • Applies whether or not the defendant is in custody; only a personal waiver avoids it (good cause does not). The text says arraignment, plea, or reinstatement without 'whichever occurs later'; enter the date that starts the period on your facts (AMBIGUITY). Whether CCP 12a extends a 60th day that falls on a weekend or holiday is UNVERIFIED; the engine rolls forward. Alternative to preliminary_examination_10_court_days.
  • 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 of arraignment on the felony complaint, plea, or reinstatement of proceedings on Monday, March 15, 2027, personal service: due Friday, May 14, 2027.

  1. Trigger (Date of arraignment on the felony complaint, plea, or reinstatement of proceedings): Monday, March 15, 2027.
  2. Exclude the trigger day and count 60 calendar days: Friday, May 14, 2027.

Unsettled points

  • The calculator shows day 60, moved back to the prior court day if it falls on a weekend or holiday, the earliest date any reading supports.Other reading: Under CCP 12a and Bailon, a weekend or holiday day 60 rolls forward to the next court day, one to three days later.

Notes

Applies whether or not the defendant is in custody; only a personal waiver avoids it (good cause does not). The text says arraignment, plea, or reinstatement without 'whichever occurs later'; enter the date that starts the period on your facts (AMBIGUITY). Whether CCP 12a extends a 60th day that falls on a weekend or holiday is UNVERIFIED; the engine rolls forward. Alternative to preliminary_examination_10_court_days.

Related deadlines

All California criminal deadlines

Local rules by county

County local rules and courtroom procedures can add to or change this deadline. Pick a county to calculate with them applied.

Rules current as of 2026-10-25. Confirm against the official source and any local rule or court order before relying on a date. Rules changelog.