I.O.P. 41.2: Petitions for Writs of Certiorari

A petition for a writ of certiorari must be filed with the Supreme Court within 90 days of the entry of judgment in a criminal case or a civil case. The time for the petition does not run from the issuance of the mandate, but from the date of judgment which is also the opinion date. If a petition for rehearing or a petition for rehearing en banc is timely filed, the time runs from the date of denial of that petition. Counsel should consult the Rules of the Supreme Court for details on how to proceed with the petition.

The Rules of the Supreme Court do not require that the record accompany a petition for certiorari and the record will not be forwarded unless specifically requested by the petitioner or counsel. Requests to certify and transmit the record to the Supreme Court prior to action on the petition for a writ of certiorari are disfavored by the Supreme Court. The Clerk of the Supreme Court will request the record from the Court of Appeals when review of the record is desired by the Supreme Court prior to action on a petition for writ of certiorari or upon granting certiorari if the record has not been transmitted earlier. The same procedures are followed for Supreme Court review by certification pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 1254(2).

If a case is remanded to the Court of Appeals from the Supreme Court, the case shall be reopened under the original docket number and the Court of Appeals may require additional briefs and oral argument, summarily dispose of the case, or take any other action consistent with the Supreme Court's opinion.