Rule 8.715. Briefing
Cal. Rules of Court, rule 8.715
Current text effective July 1, 2017.
#(a) Time to serve and file briefs
Unless otherwise ordered by the reviewing court:
#(1) An appellant must serve and file its opening brief within 10 days after the notice of appeal is served and filed;
#(2) A respondent must serve and file its brief within 25 days after the appellant files its opening brief; and
#(3) An appellant must serve and file its reply brief, if any, within 15 days after the respondent files its brief.
#(b) Contents and form of briefs
#(1) The briefs must comply as nearly as possible with rule 8.204.
#(2) If a designated reporter's transcript has not been filed at least 5 days before the date by which a brief must be filed, an initial version of the brief may be served and filed in which references to a matter in the reporter's transcript are not supported by a citation to the volume and page number of the reporter's transcript where the matter appears. Within 10 days after the reporter's transcript is filed, a revised version of the brief must be served and filed in which all references to a matter in the reporter's transcript must be supported by a citation to the volume and page number of the reporter's transcript where the matter appears. No other changes to the initial version of the brief are permitted.
#(c) Stipulated extensions of time to file briefs
If the parties stipulate to extend the time to file a brief under rule 8.212(b), they are deemed to have agreed that such an extension will promote the interests of justice, that the time for resolving the action may be extended beyond 100 days by the number of days by which the parties stipulated to extend the time for filing the brief, and that to that extent, they have waived any objection to noncompliance with the deadlines for completing review stated in Code of Civil Procedure section 1294.4 for the duration of the stipulated extension.
#(d) Failure to file brief
If a party fails to timely file an appellant's opening brief or a respondent's brief, the reviewing court clerk must serve the party with a notice indicating that if the required brief is not filed within two court days of service of the clerk's notice, the court may impose one of the following sanctions:
#(1) If the brief is an appellant's opening brief, the court may dismiss the appeal;
#(2) If the brief is a respondent's brief, the court may decide the appeal on the record, the opening brief, and any oral argument by the appellant; or
#(3) Any other sanction that the court finds appropriate.
#History
Rule 8.715 adopted effective July 1, 2017.
What this rule requires
Filing Timing and Cure Windows
(1) An appellant must serve and file its opening brief within 10 days after the notice of appeal is served and filed;
(2) A respondent must serve and file its brief within 25 days after the appellant files its opening brief;
(3) An appellant must serve and file its reply brief, if any, within 15 days after the respondent files its brief.
If the designated reporter’s transcript was not filed at least 5 days before the brief’s due date, the revised brief must be served and filed within 10 days after the transcript is filed.
The rule's wording
(2) If a designated reporter's transcript has not been filed at least 5 days before the date by which a brief must be filed, an initial version of the brief may be served and filed in which references to a matter in the reporter's transcript are not supported by a citation to the volume and page number of the reporter's transcript where the matter appears. Within 10 days after the reporter's transcript is filed, a revised version of the brief must be served and filed in which all references to a matter in the reporter's transcript must be supported by a citation to the volume and page number of the reporter's transcript where the matter appears. No other changes to the initial version of the brief are permitted.
If an appellant’s opening brief or respondent’s brief is not timely filed, the party has two court days after service of the clerk’s notice to file it before the court may impose the stated sanctions.
The rule's wording
If a party fails to timely file an appellant's opening brief or a respondent's brief, the reviewing court clerk must serve the party with a notice indicating that if the required brief is not filed within two court days of service of the clerk's notice, the court may impose one of the following sanctions: (1) If the brief is an appellant's opening brief, the court may dismiss the appeal; (2) If the brief is a respondent's brief, the court may decide the appeal on the record, the opening brief, and any oral argument by the appellant; or (3) Any other sanction that the court finds appropriate.
Service and Proof of Service Rules
(1) An appellant must serve and file its opening brief within 10 days after the notice of appeal is served and filed;
(2) A respondent must serve and file its brief within 25 days after the appellant files its opening brief;
(3) An appellant must serve and file its reply brief, if any, within 15 days after the respondent files its brief.
If the designated reporter’s transcript was not filed at least 5 days before the brief’s due date, the revised brief must be served within 10 days after the transcript is filed.
The rule's wording
(2) If a designated reporter's transcript has not been filed at least 5 days before the date by which a brief must be filed, an initial version of the brief may be served and filed in which references to a matter in the reporter's transcript are not supported by a citation to the volume and page number of the reporter's transcript where the matter appears. Within 10 days after the reporter's transcript is filed, a revised version of the brief must be served and filed in which all references to a matter in the reporter's transcript must be supported by a citation to the volume and page number of the reporter's transcript where the matter appears. No other changes to the initial version of the brief are permitted.
the reviewing court clerk must serve the party with a notice
Document Format Requirements
(1) The briefs must comply as nearly as possible with rule 8.204.
If the designated reporter’s transcript was not filed at least 5 days before the brief’s due date, an initial brief may omit transcript citations, but the revised brief must include them and may make no other changes.
The rule's wording
(2) If a designated reporter's transcript has not been filed at least 5 days before the date by which a brief must be filed, an initial version of the brief may be served and filed in which references to a matter in the reporter's transcript are not supported by a citation to the volume and page number of the reporter's transcript where the matter appears. Within 10 days after the reporter's transcript is filed, a revised version of the brief must be served and filed in which all references to a matter in the reporter's transcript must be supported by a citation to the volume and page number of the reporter's transcript where the matter appears. No other changes to the initial version of the brief are permitted.
Adjournment & Extension Requirements
When parties stipulate to extend the time to file a brief under rule 8.212(b), they are deemed to agree that the extension serves justice, may extend resolution beyond 100 days by the extension’s duration, and waives their objection to noncompliance with the specified review deadlines for that duration.
The rule's wording
If the parties stipulate to extend the time to file a brief under rule 8.212(b), they are deemed to have agreed that such an extension will promote the interests of justice, that the time for resolving the action may be extended beyond 100 days by the number of days by which the parties stipulated to extend the time for filing the brief, and that to that extent, they have waived any objection to noncompliance with the deadlines for completing review stated in Code of Civil Procedure section 1294.4 for the duration of the stipulated extension.
Official text: courts.ca.gov , checked October 19, 2026.