COURT OF APPEAL, FIRST APPELLATE DISTRICT:
Documents must be filed through the TrueFiling electronic filing system, pursuant to Local Rule 12.
Warning: Other Districts have different filing requirements.
Note on client information in proofs of service: A client’s mailing address or location will often be confidential and/or privileged because the client communicated it directly to counsel or counsel learned of it “by virtue of the representation” of the client. (See Cal. Rules Prof. Conduct, Rule 1.6, Comment 2; Bus. & Prof. Code, § 6068, subd. (e)(1).) In delinquency, dependency, and certain civil commitment cases, it will additionally be confidential because of the confidential nature of the case. Counsel should not include the client’s mailing address or location in a proof of service if the address is confidential or privileged, and in confidential cases, counsel should take care to use the client’s initials (or first name and last initial) instead of their full name.
| Brief | Length Limit | Due Date |
|---|---|---|
| Brief:AOB | Length Limit:25,500 words (Rule 8.360(b)(1)) | Due Date:See appointment order (Rule 8.360(c)(1)) |
| Brief:Respondent’s Brief | Length Limit:25,500 words (Rule 8.360(b)) | Due Date:30 days after AOB (Rule 8.360(c)(2)) |
| Brief:Reply Brief | Length Limit:25,500 words (Rule 8.360(b)) | Due Date:20 days after RB (Rule 8.360(c)(3)) |
| Brief:Petition for Rehearing | Length Limit:25,500 words (Rule 8.360(b)) | Due Date:15 days after decision (Rule 8.268(b)(1)) |
| Brief:Answer to Petition for Rehearing | Length Limit:25,500 words (Rule 8.360(b)) | Due Date:8 days after court order (Rule 8.268(b)(2)) |
| Brief:Habeas Corpus Petition (filed by counsel) | Length Limit:14,000 words (Rule 8.204(c)(1), 8.384(a)(2)) | Due Date:n/a |
Note: Local Rule 12(i) permits the filing of a paper version of a document only if all three of the following conditions are met: “(1) it is not available in electronic format; (2) it must therefore be scanned to PDF; and (3) the file size of the scanned document exceeds the limit specified on the EFS Web site.” See also Rule 8.44, which governs the number of copies required for paper-filed documents.
CALIFORNIA SUPREME COURT
Documents must be filed through the TrueFiling electronic filing system pursuant to Supreme Court policy.
| Pleading | Length Limit | Due Date |
|---|---|---|
| PleadingsPetition for Review | Length Limit:8,400 words Rule 8.504(d)(1) | Due Date – Electronically Filed PDF:10 days after decision final as to Court of Appeal (Rule 8.500(e)(1); see also rules 8.366(b) [finality in criminal appeal] 8.387(b) [finality in habeas proceeding]; 8.264(b) and 8.470 [finality in juvenile appeal]) |
| PleadingAnswer to Petition For Review | Length Limit:8,400 words Rule 8.504(d)(1) | Due Date – Electronically Filed PDF:20 days after petition (Rule 8.500(e)(4)) |
| PleadingReply to Answer to Petition for Review | Length Limit:4,200 words Rule 8.504(d)(1) | Due Date – Electronically Filed PDF:10 days after answer (Rule 8.500(e)(5)) | PleadingOpening Brief on Merits | Length Limit:14,000 words Rule 8.520(c)(1) | Due Date:30 days after review granted (Rule 8.250(a)(1)) |
| PleadingAnswering Brief on Merits | Length Limit:14,000 words Rule 8.520(c)(1) | Due Date:30 days after Opening Brief (Rule 8.250(a)(2)) |
| Pleadings in Connection with Merits Briefing:Reply Brief on Merits | Length Limit:8,400 words Rule 8.520(c)(1) | Due Date:20 days after answering brief (Rule 8.250(a)(3)) |
| Pleadings in Connection with Merits Briefing:Supplemental Brief on new authorities or legislation not available for brief on merits | Length Limit:2,800 words (Rule 8.520(d)(2)) | Due Date:10 days before oral arg (Rule 8.250(d)(2)) |
| Pleadings in Connection with Merits Briefing:Petition for Rehearing | Length Limit:14,000 words Rule 8.520(c)(1) | Due Date:15 days after opinion Rules 8.268(b)(1); 8.536(b) |
| Pleadings in Connection with Merits Briefing:Answer to Petition for Rehearing | Length Limit:14,000 words Rule 8.520(c)(1) or 8.204(c)(1), 8.268(b)(3), and 8.536(b) | Due Date:8 days after petition Rule 8.536(b) |
| Pleadings in Connection with Merits Briefing:Habeas Corpus Petition (filed by counsel) | Length Limit:14,000 words (Rule 8.204(c)(1), 8.384(a)(2)) | Due Date:n/a |