When will a certiorari petition be distributed to the Court?

Rule 15.5 permits distribution on express waiver of opposition, or expiration of the allowed opposition time when no waiver or brief is filed.

After a timely opposition, the minimum fourteen-day wait applies unless petitioner expressly waives it. Check whether the brief was timely and whether the wait was actually waived.

If a cross-petition is docketed, Rule 15.7 defers distribution of both until the cross-petition is due for distribution. Read both dockets.

1. Identify the actual opposition, waiver or expiration branch.
2. Check petitioner’s express waiver of the minimum wait.
3. Check whether a cross-petition has been docketed.
4. Read the actual distribution entry rather than forecasting Clerk action.

Rule 15.5 supplies a minimum wait, not a direction to distribute on its final day. The source guide does not treat an administrative minimum as a party deadline.

Rule 15.6 permits a reply to new opposition points. Distribution and consideration will not be deferred pending its receipt.

A single filing date cannot establish the applicable branch, waiver, cross-petition status or actual Clerk action.

Opposition waiver or expiration

Rule 15.5 supplies branches without the assumed timely-opposition waiting interval.

Petitioner’s express waiver

Petitioner can expressly waive the fourteen-day wait after a timely opposition.

Docketed cross-petition

Rule 15.7 defers both petitions until the cross-petition is due for distribution.

Optional reply

Rule 15.6 does not defer distribution pending receipt of a reply.

• This guide does not predict Clerk distribution, a conference or the Court’s decision.
• It does not certify timeliness of the opposition or imply that fourteen days is a reply deadline.

• Verify the actual docketing and opposition time, including authorized extensions.
• Identify any express waiver of opposition or the minimum wait.
• Check filing and timing of any cross-petition.
• Read the actual distribution entry and Court directions.
• If filing a reply, address new opposition points under Rule 15.6 and comply with its copies and service requirements.
• Rule 29.2 distinguishes timely paper receipt, qualifying USPS postmark, commercial-carrier delivery and proper electronic submission. Under the March 2026 rule, electronic timeliness requires the paper copies to be delivered or mailed by a specified method within three days. Rule 29.7 and the current guidelines impose additional electronic-submission requirements for represented filers and identify exceptions. Filing with the Court does not itself transmit the document to other parties.