3-1. What are the filing deadlines for briefs?

Here are the initial filing deadlines for the appellant's opening brief, respondent's brief and appellant's reply brief. These filing deadlines may be further extended, as explained in greater detail below.

A. Time Limits - Appellant's Opening Brief (AOB)

1. AOB Time Limits - Civil Appeals
1. If you use a Clerk's Transcript: The clerk's office will send you a notice to indicate when the record on appeal has been filed. (Rule 8.150(b).) You will have 30 days from the date of this notice in which to file an appellant's opening brief. (Rule 8.212(a)(1).)
2. If you use an Appendix (Rule 8.124): Your deadline to file the appellant's opening brief will depend upon whether you also have designated a reporter's transcript in addition to your election to use an appendix.
1. If you elect an Appendix, and also have designated a reporter's transcript: The clerk's office will send you a notice to indicate when the record on appeal has been filed. (Rule 8.150(b).) You will have 30 days from the date of filing of this notice in which to file an appellant's opening brief. (Rule 8.212(a)(1)(A).)
2. If you elect an Appendix, but have NOT designated a reporter's transcript: You will have 70 days after you filed your Rule 8.124 notice of election to file an appellant's opening brief. (Rule 8.212(a)(1)(A).)
2. AOB Time Limits - Criminal Appeals. The clerk's office will send you a notice to indicate when the record on appeal has been filed. (Rule 8.150(b).) You have 40 days from the filing of the record to file an opening brief. (Rule 8.360(c)(1).)
3. AOB Time Limits - Dependency Appeals. The clerk's office will send you a notice to indicate when the record on appeal has been filed. (Rule 8.150(b).) You have 30 days from the filing of the record to file an opening brief. (Rule 8.416(e).)

B. Time Limits - Respondent's Brief (RB)

You have 30 days from the date the appellant's opening brief is filed to file your respondent's brief. (Rules 8.212(a)(2), 8.360(c)(2), 8.412(b)(2).). Where there are multiple sets of appellants, your time starts to run from the last-filed appellant's opening brief.

C. Time Limits - Appellant's Reply Brief (ARB)

You have 20 days from the date the respondent's brief is filed to file an appellant's reply brief, if you want to file an appellant's reply brief, which is optional. (Rules 8.212(a)(3), 8.360(c)(3), and 8.412(b)(3).) Where there are multiple sets of respondents, your time starts to run from the last-filed respondent's brief.

D. Time Limits - Minor's Brief

The minor's brief in a juvenile fast track case (where the minor is not the appellant) is due 10 days from the filing of the respondent's brief. (Rule 8.412(b)(4).)