Short answer. Yes. The court may shorten the periods for filing pleadings and other proceedings to secure the most expeditious determination consistent with the parties' rights, and the quo warranto action may be given precedence over any other pending civil matter already on the court's docket.

What the law says

The court may reduce the period provided by these Rules for filing pleadings and for all other proceedings in the action in order to secure the most expeditious determination of the matters involved therein consistent with the rights of the parties. Such action may be given precedence over any other civil matter pending in the court.

Rule 66, Section 8 — Period for pleadings and proceedings may be reduced; action given precedence. Read the full provision →

Shortened timelines, at the court's discretion

Recognizing that disputes over who lawfully holds a public office should not drag on, this section lets the court reduce the periods otherwise set by the Rules for filing pleadings and conducting other proceedings in a quo warranto case, all in service of reaching the most expeditious determination possible. The shortening applies to the whole proceeding, not just a single filing deadline, giving the court real flexibility to compress the case's overall timeline. A court handling a quo warranto case can, for example, shorten the period for filing an answer or for setting the case for hearing, compressing steps that would otherwise take much longer in an ordinary civil action.

Speed balanced against fairness

The power to shorten periods is not unlimited; it must still be exercised consistent with the rights of the parties, meaning the court cannot compress the timeline so aggressively that a party is denied a fair opportunity to be heard. Expedition and due process are meant to operate together, not at each other's expense, so a court that shortens periods too aggressively risks having its judgment challenged on fairness grounds later on appeal. A respondent facing a shortened timeline can still raise an objection if a particular deadline leaves genuinely too little time to prepare a proper defense.

Jumping the docket queue

Beyond shortened periods, a quo warranto action may also be given precedence over any other civil matter pending in the court, effectively letting it be prioritized ahead of other cases on the docket. This underscores how disruptive an unresolved dispute over public office is treated as being, since the uncertainty over who actually holds the position can affect public confidence in whoever is exercising it in the meantime. A court with a heavy caseload may otherwise be tempted to let a quo warranto case wait its turn like any other filing, which this provision is designed to prevent.

Related provisions

Note. Statute text quoted on this page is reproduced from the official enactment and is linked to the full provision. The explanation around it is general legal information from Vivas & Nobles Law Office, not legal advice. Whether it applies to your situation depends on facts only a lawyer reviewing them can assess.