Filing a Petition for Writ of Certiorari
- A petition for writ of certiorari filed in the Supreme Court seeking review of a decision of the Appellate Court must be filed no later than 15 days from the date of the mandate of the Appellate Court Rule 8-302(a). Printable instructions can be found here: Appellate Court to Supreme Court.
- A petition seeking review of a circuit court decision on appeal from the District Court of Maryland must be filed no later than 30 days from the date of the judgment of the circuit court Md. Rule 8-302(b). Printable instructions can be found here: Circuit Court to Supreme Court.
- Only an original petition or cross-petition is required to be filed without any additional copies. Rule 8-303(a)
- A filing fee of $61.00 is required for both petitions and cross-petitions. Rule 8-303(a) To request a waiver of this filing fee, complete the Request for Waiver of Prepaid Appellate Costs form and file it with your petition.
- A petition or cross-petition is not to exceed 3,900 words in length (not including attachments). Rule 8-303(b)(1)
- Required attachments to the petition are:
a. Docket entries evidencing the judgment of the circuit court.
b. Any opinion of the circuit court.
c. Any written order issued under Rule 2-602(b).
d. If the case has not been decided by the Appellate Court, all briefs that have been filed in the Appellate Court; and
e. Any opinion of the Appellate Court. Rule 8-303(b)(2)
- An answer to a petition or cross-petition is due 15 days from the filing date of the petition or cross-petition. Only an original answer is required to be filed without any additional copies. An answer to a petition shall not exceed 3,900 words, and a reply to a cross-petition shall not exceed 1,500 words. There is no filing fee for answers. Rule 8-303(d)
- Petitions usually take six to eight weeks to be acted on by the Court.
- Sample Petitions
- If you are representing yourself, please see our Guide for Self-Represented Litigants.
