**712The sole question presented in this certified public interest appeal is whether General Statutes § 52-470 divests the habeas court of discretion to determine when it should act on a motion by the respondent, the Commissioner of Correction, for an order to show cause why an untimely petition should be permitted to proceed. In the present case, the habeas court took no action on the motion of the respondent requesting the **713court, pursuant to § 52-470 (d) and (e), to order the petitioner, Eric Thomas Kelsey, to show cause why his petition should be permitted to proceed despite his delay in filing it. The court interpreted § 52-470 to deprive it of discretion to act on the respondent's motion prior to the close of all pleadings. Upon concluding both that this matter involved issues of substantial public interest and that further delay may work a substantial injustice, the Chief Justice granted the respondent's request to file an interlocutory appeal pursuant to General Statutes § 52-265a.
In this appeal, we are presented with three proposed interpretations of § 52-470 *580regarding the degree to which, if at all, that statute constrains the discretion of the habeas court as to when it may act on the respondent's motion for an order to show good cause why a petition should be permitted to proceed when a petitioner has delayed in filing the habeas petition. The habeas court believed that § 52-470 (b) (1) required the court to wait until the close of all pleadings to act on the respondent's motion. The respondent contends that the court mistakenly relied on § 52-470 (b) (1) in declining to act on his motion. The respondent argues that § 52-470 (e) controls and requires that, once the court is presented with a timeliness challenge to the petition, the court must resolve that question before the action is allowed to proceed further. The petitioner agrees with the respondent that § 52-470 (e), rather than § 52-470 (b), applies, but argues that, under that subsection, the habeas court retains discretion to decide when to issue the order. We conclude that § 52-470 (e) applies and does not limit the discretion of the habeas court **714as to when it may act on a motion for an order to show cause why an untimely petition should be permitted to proceed. Accordingly, we conclude that the habeas court improperly determined that it lacked discretion to act on the respondent's motion for an order to show cause because the pleadings in the case were not yet closed. We therefore reverse the determination of the habeas court that it could not act on the respondent's motion for an order to show cause why the petition should be permitted to proceed.
The following procedural background is relevant to our resolution of this appeal. The petitioner, following a jury trial, was convicted of felony murder in violation of General Statutes § 53a-54c and conspiracy to commit robbery in the first degree in violation of General Statutes §§ 53a-48 (a) and 53a-134 (a) (3). After the petitioner exhausted his direct appeals, he filed a petition for a writ of habeas corpus in August, 2007. Following a trial on the merits, the habeas court denied his petition in 2010. The Appellate Court dismissed his appeal from the judgment of the habeas court; Kelsey v. Commissioner of Correction ,
The petitioner filed his second habeas petition in March, 2017, more than two years after the judgment was final on his prior petition. The respondent moved for an order directing the petitioner to show cause why his petition should be permitted to proceed when he filed his subsequent petition outside the two year limit set forth in § 52-470 (d) (1). In a brief order issued one week after the respondent filed the motion, the habeas court ruled that, pursuant to § 52-470 (b) (1), it would take no action on the motion until after the pleadings had closed. Shortly thereafter, the respondent moved **715for reconsideration, which the habeas court granted. In its memorandum of decision, issued seven days after the respondent filed the motion for reconsideration, the court denied the requested relief, explaining that the court interpreted § 52-470 to deprive it of discretion to act on the respondent's motion prior to the close of the pleadings. Relying on § 52-470 (b) (1), the court stated that "the language of ... § 52-470 is clear and unambiguous as to the requirement that the pleadings be closed before a request for an order to 'show cause' may be entertained." Accordingly, the court upheld its earlier decision to take no action on the respondent's motion. This public interest appeal followed.
The issue before the court is whether § 52-470 divests the habeas court *581of discretion to determine when it should act on a respondent's motion for an order to show cause why an untimely petition should be permitted to proceed. That issue presents a question of statutory interpretation over which we exercise plenary review, guided by well established principles regarding legislative intent. See, e.g., Kasica v. Columbia ,
We recently recognized that the 2012 amendments to § 52-470 were the result of "comprehensive habeas reform," and that the new provisions of § 52-470"are intended to supplement that statute's efficacy in averting frivolous habeas petitions and appeals. See Public Acts 2012, No. 12-115, § 1 [P.A. 12-115]." Kaddah v. Commissioner of Correction ,
**716We first review subsection (a), which existed in substantially identical form prior to the 2012 amendments to § 52-470 ; see General Statutes (Rev. to 2011) § 52-470 (a) ; and pertains to the proceedings during a trial on the merits. That subsection provides: "The court or judge hearing any habeas corpus shall proceed in a summary way to determine the facts and issues of the case, by hearing the testimony and arguments in the case, and shall inquire fully into the cause of imprisonment and thereupon dispose of the case as law and justice require." General Statutes § 52-470 (a). Subsection (a) makes clear that the primary goal of § 52-470 is to ensure that habeas actions "proceed in a summary way ...." This court previously has construed the phrase "in a summary way" to mean that habeas proceedings must be conducted in a manner that is "prompt and without unreasonable and unnecessary delay." (Internal quotation marks omitted.) Hogewoning v. Hogewoning ,
The language of § 52-470 (a), which was not substantively altered by P.A. 12-115, provides a helpful backdrop for understanding the remainder of the statute. As Hogewoning illustrates, the statute has always had the legislative purpose of ensuring the efficient and expeditious resolution of habeas petitions. We consider it significant that, notwithstanding the comprehensive nature of the 2012 habeas reform, through which five entirely new subsections were added to the statute, the legislature left intact the final clause of § 52-470 (a), which provides that the habeas court "shall ... dispose of the case as law and justice require." Thus, the legislature retained language that makes clear that the expeditious resolution of habeas petitions must be accomplished in a manner that does not curtail a petitioner's right to due process. In other words, the two **717principles of expediency and due process must be balanced in effectuating the legislative intent of the 2012 habeas reform.
The 2012 amendments are significant not because they effectuate an entirely new purpose, but because they provide tools to effectuate the original purpose of ensuring expedient resolution of habeas cases. The 2012 habeas reform added two procedural mechanisms to assist the habeas court in resolving the case "in a summary way ...."
*582General Statutes § 52-470 (a). The amendments to § 52-470 set forth procedures by which the habeas court may dismiss meritless petitions and untimely ones. Specifically, § 52-470 (b) addresses the dismissal of meritless petitions, whereas § 52-470 (c), (d) and (e) provide mechanisms for dismissing untimely petitions.
We turn to § 52-470 (b), which the trial court relied on in concluding that it lacked discretion to act on the respondent's motion for an order to show cause. That subsection authorizes the habeas court to render a "summary dismissal without a trial" of all or part of a habeas petition if the court determines, either on motion by a party or sua sponte, that there is no good cause for trial. Kaddah v. Commissioner of Correction , supra,
**718This constraint on the court's discretion is consistent with the nature of the court's inquiry. In order to determine whether there is good cause for trial, the court must by necessity wade-albeit in a preliminary manner-into the merits of the petition. The determination of whether good cause exists turns on the ultimate question of whether the petitioner would be entitled to relief under applicable law. As a practical matter, because that inquiry is a substantive one, the question would be premature prior to the close of all pleadings. Addressing the question of whether good cause for trial exists on the basis of incomplete information would, in turn, be inconsistent with the requirement of § 52-470 (a) that the court "dispose of the case as law and justice require."
The procedures available for the "good cause for trial" inquiry confirm our conclusion that the court's threshold inquiry is substantive in nature. For example, § 52-470 (b) (2) contemplates that the parties may submit evidence to assist the court in making its determination, including, but not limited to "documentary evidence, affidavits and unsworn statements." Our conclusion is also consistent with the requirement that the petition and exhibits must "provide a factual basis upon which the court can conclude that evidence in support of the alleged facts exists and will be presented at trial ...." General Statutes § 52-470 (b) (3). Finally, if the petition and the exhibits do not establish such good cause, "the court shall hold a preliminary hearing to determine whether such good cause exists." General Statutes § 52-470 (b) (3). The preliminary hearing is one at which the court considers "any evidence or argument by the parties ...." General Statutes § 52-470 (b) (3). Essentially, § 52-470 (b) provides the habeas court with a means-short of holding a trial on the merits-to screen out meritless petitions in a manner that allows the petitioner every opportunity to meet the required **719good cause showing. Unlike § 52-470 (b), § 52-470 (c), (d) and (e) together address whether the petitioner can establish good cause for a delay in filing a petition. Accordingly, because the respondent's motion in the present case did not challenge whether there was good cause for trial, but, instead, requested that the court address the timeliness of the petition, we conclude that the habeas court incorrectly *583applied § 52-470 (b) to the respondent's motion.
We now consider the provisions that set forth the applicable procedures for addressing a delay in filing the petition. Subsections (c) and (d) of § 52-470 establish a "rebuttable presumption" of delay without good cause for petitions filed outside the time limits set forth therein.
In § 52-470 (e), the legislature outlined the procedure by which the respondent may rely on the rebuttable presumption established by § 52-470 (c) and (d) that no good cause exists for a delay in filing the petition. Section 52-470 (e) provides in relevant part: "In a case in which the rebuttable presumption of delay under subsection (c) or (d) of this section applies, the court, upon the request of the respondent, shall issue an order to show cause why the petition should be permitted to proceed...." We begin with two observations about § 52-470 (e). First, in contrast to the court's inquiry as to whether good cause exists for trial, which the court may undertake either on its own motion or by the motion of any party;
*584General Statutes § 52-470 (b) (1) ; the court's duty to inquire whether there is good cause for a delay is triggered only upon the request of the respondent. If the respondent makes such a request, the court "shall" issue an order to show cause.
Notably, as compared to the procedures available under § 52-470 (b) to demonstrate that good cause exists for trial, § 52-470 (e) provides significantly less detail regarding the procedures by which a petitioner may rebut the presumption that there was no good cause for a delay in filing the petition. Specifically, § 52-470 (e) merely provides in relevant part that "[t]he petitioner or, if applicable, the petitioner's counsel, shall have a meaningful opportunity to investigate the basis for the delay and respond to the order. If, after such opportunity, the court finds that the petitioner has not demonstrated good cause for the delay, the court shall dismiss the petition. For the purposes of this **722subsection, good cause includes, but is not limited to, the discovery of new evidence which materially affects the merits of the case and which could not have been discovered by the exercise of due diligence in time to meet the requirements of subsection (c) or (d) of this section."
Nothing in subsection (e) expressly addresses whether the petitioner may present argument or evidence, or file exhibits, or whether and under what circumstances the court is required to hold a hearing, if the court should determine that doing so would assist it in making its determination. The only express procedural requirement is stated broadly. The court must provide the petitioner with a "meaningful opportunity" both to investigate the basis for the delay and to respond to the order to show cause. General Statutes § 52-470 (e). The phrase "meaningful opportunity" is not defined in the statute. That phrase typically refers, however, to the provision of an opportunity that comports with the requirements of due process. See, e.g., State v. Fay ,
We envision that, in the majority of cases, the question of whether a petitioner has demonstrated good cause for delay will not require that the habeas court engage in an inquiry that is similar in scope to the one required for the screening of meritless petitions pursuant to § 52-470 (b). The absence of detailed procedural requirements in § 52-470 (e), as compared with those identified in § 52-470 (b), is consistent with that general expectation. In many cases, the habeas court will likely be able to resolve the question of whether there was good cause for delay soon after the respondent files a motion requesting an order to show cause. In some instances, however, the basis for a delay may be inextricably intertwined with the merits of the petition. Under such circumstances, the court will be required to engage in a more substantive inquiry, which will more closely resemble the type of inquiry contemplated under § 52-470 (b). Section 52-470 (e) expressly recognizes that possibility by stating "good cause" for delay may include "the discovery of new evidence which materially affects the merits of the case and which could not have been discovered by the exercise of due diligence in time to meet the requirements of subsection **724(c) or (d) of this section." (Emphasis added.) A classic example in which the basis for delay and the merits of the petition will be inextricably intertwined is when a petitioner has alleged that the state violated its duty to disclose exculpatory evidence under Brady v. Maryland ,
Our statutory construction is also consistent with the bedrock principle that "[t]he trial court possesses inherent discretionary powers to control pleadings, exclude evidence, and prevent occurrences that might unnecessarily prejudice the right of any party to a fair trial." (Internal quotation marks omitted.) Downs v. Trias ,
The habeas court's exercise of its discretion to manage the case remains the best tool to guarantee that the case is disposed of "as law and justice require"; General Statutes § 52-470 (a) ; as the habeas judge is in the best position to balance the principles of judicial economy and due process. These concerns are particularly salient for writs of habeas corpus, the principal purpose of which is "to serve as a bulwark against convictions that violate fundamental fairness." (Internal quotation *587marks omitted.) Lozada v. Warden ,
The decision of the habeas court is reversed and the case is remanded to that court for further proceedings consistent with this opinion.
In this opinion the other justices concurred.
This court has construed § 52-265a to allow the Chief Justice to certify an appeal in matters of public importance even if the order challenged is not a final judgment. See, e.g., State v. Elias G. ,
In that case, this court construed General Statutes § 5897, a predecessor to § 52-470 (a). Hogewoning v. Hogewoning , supra,
General Statutes § 52-470 provides in relevant part: "(c) Except as provided in subsection (d) of this section, there shall be a rebuttable presumption that the filing of a petition challenging a judgment of conviction has been delayed without good cause if such petition is filed after the later of the following: (1) Five years after the date on which the judgment of conviction is deemed to be a final judgment due to the conclusion of appellate review or the expiration of the time for seeking such review; (2) October 1, 2017; or (3) two years after the date on which the constitutional or statutory right asserted in the petition was initially recognized and made retroactive pursuant to a decision of the Supreme Court or Appellate Court of this state or the Supreme Court of the United States or by the enactment of any public or special act. The time periods set forth in this subsection shall not be tolled during the pendency of any other petition challenging the same conviction.
"(d) In the case of a petition filed subsequent to a judgment on a prior petition challenging the same conviction, there shall be a rebuttable presumption that the filing of the subsequent petition has been delayed without good cause if such petition is filed after the later of the following: (1) Two years after the date on which the judgment in the prior petition is deemed to be a final judgment due to the conclusion of appellate review or the expiration of the time for seeking such review; (2) October 1, 2014; or (3) two years after the date on which the constitutional or statutory right asserted in the petition was initially recognized and made retroactive pursuant to a decision of the Supreme Court or Appellate Court of this state or the Supreme Court of the United States or by the enactment of any public or special act. For the purposes of this section, the withdrawal of a prior petition challenging the same conviction shall not constitute a judgment. The time periods set forth in this subsection shall not be tolled during the pendency of any other petition challenging the same conviction. Nothing in this subsection shall create or enlarge the right of the petitioner to file a subsequent petition under applicable law...."
General Statutes § 52-470 (f), which creates an exception to subsections (c) through (e) for petitioners "asserting actual innocence ... challeng[ing] the conditions of confinement," or challenging capital convictions resulting in a death sentence, is not at issue in this appeal.
The respondent contends that the language of § 52-470 (e) requires the habeas court to issue the show cause order immediately upon the respondent's request. Specifically, the respondent relies on the provision of that subsection that "the court, upon the request of the respondent, shall issue an order to show cause ...." (Emphasis added.) General Statutes § 52-470 (e). The respondent argues that the word "shall" creates a mandatory, temporal restraint on the court's power to act on the respondent's motion. As we already have explained, however, nothing in the text of § 52-470 (e) refers to any time limit on the habeas court's authority to act on a motion requesting an order to show cause when there has been a delay-the respondent does not point to any language that expressly defines a time constraint on the court's power to act. The reasonable reading of the statutory language is that it merely clarifies that if the respondent requests that the habeas court address the issue of untimeliness, the court must do so. Nothing in the statute, however, requires that the court do so immediately.
The respondent presumes that, in keeping "presumptively untimely petitions pending," the habeas court would let cases sit for years. We disagree. Accompanying the habeas court's enjoyment of discretion, however, is its responsibility to exercise that discretion appropriately. The statute requires that the habeas court ensure that the action proceed "in a summary way ...." General Statutes § 52-470 (a). We are confident that the habeas court would exercise its discretion in a manner consistent with the statutory mandate.