The Supreme Court and the courts of appeal may transact business at any time.
§ 41.Transaction of business
Title 1. Organization and Jurisdiction · Chapter 3. Supreme Court · Last amended 1967 · Last verified July 28, 2026
In one sentence§ 41 provides that the Supreme Court and the courts of appeal may transact business at any time, rather than being limited to fixed terms or sessions.
Full Text of § 41
Plain-English Summary
§ 41 states a clear rule: California’s Supreme Court and courts of appeal are not bound to fixed terms or sessions. They can transact business whenever needed.
The current wording replaced an earlier version, which itself replaced still older language addressed to a particular Court of Appeal district’s own session calendar. Successive amendments stripped away those scheduling specifics until the section settled on the general rule in place today.
Frequently Asked Questions
Are California’s appellate courts required to hold sessions during specific months?
No — § 41 lets the Supreme Court and the courts of appeal transact business at any time, without a fixed statutory calendar.
Does § 41 set specific court terms or session dates?
No — it replaced older language that once fixed particular sessions and locations, leaving the Supreme Court and courts of appeal free to set their own calendars.
Amendment History
Added Stats 1951 ch 655 § 8 as § 61.4. Amended Stats 1953 ch 206 § 2. Amended and renumbered Stats 1967 ch 17 § 7.
Source & verification. Section text is reproduced verbatim from
the Deering's California Codes Annotated / vLex. Enacted by the California Legislature.
Last verified July 28, 2026.
· Official source
Also known as: supreme court transact business any timecourts of appeal session scheduleappellate court always open