Los Angeles Superior Court Adjournment & Extension Requirements

CRITICAL

Continuances may only be requested by Stipulation & Order or ex parte application; telephone continuances are prohibited.

Continuation Policy: Continuances can be requested by Stipulation & Order or Ex Parte. Telephone continuances are not permitted.

CRITICALCivil cases

Trial continuance requests are disfavored, require good cause, and must include specified statements about the proposed date and mediation.

REQUESTS FOR A TRIAL CONTINUANCE – Requests for a trial continuance are disfavored. Any request for a trial continuance must include the requisite showing of good cause, as well as the following: 1. A statement from each party that the proposed trial date is a date upon which all experts, percipient witnesses, and principals will be available; and 2. To the extent mediation has not taken place, a date certain for mediation, to include the name of the mediator.

CRITICALCivil cases

Trial continuance requests are disfavored and must show good cause, include a statement that all experts, percipient witnesses, and principals will be available on the proposed trial date, and — if mediation has not occurred — a date certain for mediation with the mediator's name.

REQUESTS FOR A TRIAL CONTINUANCE – Requests for a trial continuance are disfavored. Any request for a trial continuance must include the requisite showing of good cause, as well as the following: 1. A statement from each party that the proposed trial date is a date upon which all experts, percipient witnesses, and principals will be available; and 2. To the extent mediation has not taken place, a date certain for mediation, to include the name of the mediator.

CRITICALCivil cases

The moving party must inform the court at the earliest possible moment when a motion will not be heard and will go off calendar (CRC 3.1306(b)), post the announcement on the e-service bulletin board, and telephone the courtroom.

To help the court avoid unnecessary preparation for motions that will not be heard, the moving party must inform the court, at the earliest possible moment, that a matter will go off calendar. This is required under California Rules of Court 3.1306(b). Please also post the announcement on the e-service bulletin board and telephone the courtroom.

CRITICAL

Parties must reserve law and motion hearing dates through the Court Reservation System (CRS) and must use CRS to continue or withdraw motions, informing the courtroom of the change.

Parties must reserve a date for all law and motion hearings via the Court Reservation System (CRS). Parties must use CRS to continue or withdraw motions and inform the courtroom of the change.

CRITICALCivil cases

Trial continuances require a noticed motion, ex parte application, or stipulation and order accompanied by a mandatory good cause declaration; a stipulation alone is insufficient.

CONTINUANCES: Trial continuances must be heard on a noticed motion OR Ex Parte Application OR by Stipulation and Order with a mandatory declaration showing Good Cause. A stipulation alone without a good faith reason stated by declaration is insufficient.

CRITICALCivil cases

Trial continuances require a noticed motion, ex parte application, or stipulation and order with a mandatory good cause declaration.

Trial continuances must be heard on a noticed motion OR Ex Parte Application OR by Stipulation and Order with a mandatory declaration showing Good Cause. A stipulation alone without a good faith reason stated by declaration is insufficient.

CRITICALCivil cases

Trial continuance requests must be made via noticed motion or ex parte application when appropriate.

Requests for trial continuances must be made by noticed motion or ex parte application when appropriate.

CRITICAL

To advance a hearing date by ex parte application, the motion must already be both reserved and filed; the court will not advance a motion that is merely reserved, and failure to timely reserve a date is not irreparable harm.

Failing to timely reserve a motion dates does not constitute irreparable harm. If any party wishes to advance a hearing date, the motion must already be both reserved and filed. The court will not advance a motion if it is merely reserved.

CRITICAL

Parties must use the Court Reservation System (CRS) to continue or withdraw motions and must also call the courtroom so it is aware of the change.

Parties must use CRS to continue or withdraw motions; please also call the courtroom so we are aware of the change.

CRITICAL

Trial and other continuances must be heard on noticed motion or ex parte application unless all parties stipulate or the Court orders otherwise; trial dates are moved only for good cause.

CONTINUANCES: Trial or other continuances must be heard on a noticed motion or Ex Parte Application basis unless otherwise stipulated to by all parties or ordered by the Court. Trial continuances are generally disfavored - trial dates should be considered firm and will be moved only upon the court finding good cause.

CRITICAL

Continuances of hearings or trials require a written stipulation showing good cause; absent stipulation, a continuance may be sought by noticed motion or ex parte application, and the court will not continue an opposed matter without good cause.

Requests for continuances of hearings or trials may be considered upon written stipulation and order. The stipulation must set forth the grounds showing good cause for a continuance. If there is no stipulation, any party may seek a continuance by noticed motion or ex parte application. The court will not continue a hearing or trial if there is opposition without a showing of good cause.

CRITICALCivil cases

Parties must use CRS to continue or withdraw motions and must also call the courtroom to notify it of the change.

Parties must use CRS to continue or withdraw motions; please also call the courtroom so we are aware of the change.

CRITICAL

Continuing or rescheduling any motion, demurrer, or other hearing requires submission of a stipulation and order.

The parties shall submit a stipulation and order to continue or reschedule any motion, demurrer or other hearing.

WARNINGCivil cases

Continuances are not granted for witnesses who fail to appear timely.

Continuances will not be granted due to witnesses who do not appear timely.

WARNING

CONTINUANCES: All hearing dates, including trial dates, may be considered for a continuance by written Stipulation and Order. Said Stipulation and Order shall state the date the Complaint was filed, the current trial date, as well as the proposed Final Status Conference date and proposed trial date. If there is no stipulation, the parties may seek a continuance by noticed motion or an ex parte application.

CONTINUANCES: All hearing dates, including trial dates, may be considered for a continuance by written Stipulation and Order. Said Stipulation and Order shall state the date the Complaint was filed, the current trial date, as well as the proposed Final Status Conference date and proposed trial date. If there is no stipulation, the parties may seek a continuance by noticed motion or an ex parte application.

WARNINGCivil cases

In discovery, only one brief time extension should generally be granted for deposition dates or compliance with discovery requests, and if compliance still is not forthcoming, a motion to compel should be made.

All counsel and parties must act in accordance with the “one-year-to-trial rule” set forth in the California Rules of Court. This means, for example, that when opposing counsel says that a deposition date set in a notice is not convenient or a continuance is asked to comply with a date noticed to comply with a discovery request, generally only one brief time extension should be granted and no more. Should compliance not then be forthcoming, a motion to compel should be made.

WARNINGCivil cases

For fully stipulated law and motion continuances, the attorney appearing on the hearing date should request priority so the Court can accommodate counsel quickly.

If all parties have agreed upon a continuance as to a law and motion matter and an attorney comes to court on the hearing date to request same, priority should be requested to enable the Court to accommodate counsel quickly.

WARNINGCivil cases

Unless it is something that comes up as an emergency or during a hearing, continuance requests are expected to be made before the original date set and in writing.

Unless it is something that comes up as an emergency or during a hearing, continuance requests are expected to be made before the original date set and in writing.

WARNINGCivil cases

Trial continuance requests are strongly disfavored and must include a good cause showing plus a statement from each party that all experts, percipient witnesses, and principals will be available on the proposed trial date.

Requests for a trial continuance are strongly disfavored. Any request for a trial continuance must include the requisite showing of good cause, as well as a statement from each party that the proposed trial date is a date upon which all experts, percipient witnesses and principals will be available.

WARNING

The Court will consider trial scheduling conflicts only if they are raised as soon as they are known.

The Court will consider scheduling conflicts, if they are raised as soon as they are known.

WARNING

Trial continuances may be sought by stipulation, ex parte application, or noticed motion, and the Court will decide whether good cause is shown and set available dates.

Trials may be continued by stipulation, ex parte application or noticed motion. The Court will decide whether good cause has been shown, and if so, the dates it has available for the continued trial.

WARNINGCivil cases

Continuance requests for mediation/settlement conference must include already scheduled date for same.

If any party seeks to continue any proceedings so that they can attend mediation or any sort of settlement conference, they must have the date already scheduled. The court will expect to see that date in the ex parte papers.

WARNINGCivil cases

The court will not continue its trial dates merely because counsel has another case set on or near the same date; the conflict must become imminent before the court will continue.

The court understands that parties and counsel may have other cases set to proceed on or near the same date. However, the court will not continue its own trial dates on that basis until the conflict becomes imminent.

WARNINGCivil cases

The court will generally adjust its dates to accommodate counsel's vacation plans only if those plans are disclosed in a timely fashion.

The court is generally willing to adjust its dates to accommodate the vacation plans of counsel, so long as those plans are disclosed in a timely fashion.

WARNING

Trials will be conducted five (5) days per week unless otherwise ordered. Court will convene promptly at the times previously set. Counsel should advise the Court well in advance if special circumstances require an adjustment to this schedule.

Trials will be conducted five (5) days per week unless otherwise ordered. Court will convene promptly at the times previously set. Counsel should advise the Court well in advance if special circumstances require an adjustment to this schedule.

WARNING

Joint trial continuance requests may be made by electronically filing and lodging a stipulation and proposed order with a detailed declaration of grounds, and such proposed orders are not effective until the Court so orders.

Parties jointly requesting a trial continuance may electronically file and lodge a stipulation and proposed order, including a detailed declaration of the grounds for the requested continuance or extension of time. California Rule of Court, rule 3.1332(c)-(d). Proposed orders regarding continuances do not become effective unless and until this Court so orders.

WARNINGCivil cases

Breaks or early recesses will not be permitted due to witness unavailability absent unusual circumstances.

Absent unusual circumstances, breaks or early recesses will not be permitted due to witness unavailability.

WARNING

Trial continuances require written or on-the-record stipulation from all attorneys of record and/or appearing parties; written stipulations should be filed in advance.

CONTINUANCES: The Court will postpone trial if all attorneys of records and/or parties who have appeared in the action stipulate in writing or on the record to a continuance. Written stipulations to continue trial should be filed in advance. Please do not wait until the last minute to seek a continuance.

WARNING

Once a trial date is set, the court presumes that no continuance of the trial date will be necessary.

Once a trial date is set, the court presumes no continuance will be necessary.

WARNING

Parties must reserve law and motion hearing dates through CRS and must use CRS (with a courtesy phone call to the courtroom) to continue or withdraw motions.

Parties must reserve a date for all law and motion hearings through the Court Reservation System (“CRS”). Parties must use CRS to continue or withdraw motions; please also telephone the courtroom so we are aware of the change.

WARNING

The court expects responding parties to grant moving parties a reasonable extension of time to file a discovery motion so the parties can schedule and conduct an IDC.

The court expects the responding party to grant the moving party a reasonable extension of time to file a motion concerning the discovery in dispute in order to enable the parties to schedule and conduct an informal discovery conference.

WARNING

Continuances will not be granted because of witnesses who fail to appear in a timely manner.

Continuances will not be granted due to witnesses who do not appear in a timely manner.

WARNING

If no stipulation is reached, any party may seek a continuance by noticed motion or ex parte application.

If there is no stipulation, any party may seek a continuance by noticed motion or ex parte application.

WARNINGCivil cases

Continuances in cases over 730 days (2 years) old are disfavored.

Continuances of cases over 730 days old (2 years) are disfavored.

WARNING

Responding parties are expected to grant moving parties a reasonable extension of time to file discovery motions so the parties can hold an informal discovery conference.

The court expects the responding party to grant the moving party a reasonable extension of time to file a motion concerning the discovery in dispute in order to enable the parties to schedule and conduct an informal discovery conference.

WARNINGCivil cases

Trial continuance requests must include an affirmative showing of reasonable diligence in preparing for trial and unforeseen circumstances preventing trial preparation.

As such, the primary factors the Court considers with regard to requests for trial continuances are an affirmative showing of: 1. Reasonable diligence in preparing for trial. 2. Unforeseen circumstances preventing the parties from being prepared for trial.

WARNING

Attorneys and parties are expected to grant reasonable requests for extensions of time to respond to pleadings, discovery, or other matters.

The court expects all attorneys and parties to grant reasonable requests for professional courtesies, such as requests for reasonable extensions of time for deadlines to respond to pleadings, discovery, or other matters.

WARNINGCivil cases

The Court will rarely grant ex parte applications to shorten (advance) a hearing date on an already-filed motion because the CRS/clerk-assigned date is the earliest available; alternatives are to delay requesting trial until pretrial motion practice concludes or to move to continue the trial date until shortly after the motion hearing.

Given the expedited notice and filing deadlines that are statutorily afforded to unlawful detainer cases, the Court will rarely grant ex parte applications to shorten the hearing date on an already-filed motion. If a party wishes to file an ex parte application to advance the hearing on such a motion because no hearing dates were available before the trial date, please be advised that the available hearing dates cannot be changed by the Court. In other words, the date provided by CRS or by the clerk is the earliest possible hearing date available. Should a party wish to have a motion heard prior to the already-scheduled trial—bearing in mind that in unlawful detainer court, the trial date is requested by the parties themselves—the Court offers two alternatives: refrain from requesting a trial until after all pretrial motion practice is concluded or else move the Court to continue the trial date until shortly after the motion hearing date at issue. The parties’ careful and early attention to the discovery and pretrial motion needs of their case should generally allay any need to reschedule a motion hearing date.

WARNING

depositions, or file Motions for Summary Judgment are not good cause to continue a jury trial date.

depositions, or file Motions for Summary Judgment are not good cause to continue a jury trial date.

WARNING

The parties are encouraged to stipulate in writing to extend any discovery motion filing deadline until at least 21 days following the IDC.

The parties are encouraged to stipulate in writing to extend any applicable deadline for filing a discovery motion until at least 21 days following the IDC.

WARNING

Trials will be conducted five (5) days per week unless otherwise ordered and will convene promptly at the times previously set. Counsel should advise the Court well in advance if special circumstances require an adjustment to this schedule.

Trials will be conducted five (5) days per week unless otherwise ordered and will convene promptly at the times previously set. Counsel should advise the Court well in advance if special circumstances require an adjustment to this schedule.

WARNING

Parties may continue Law and Motion matters through the CRS system.

The parties may continue Law and Motion matters through the CRS system.

WARNING

CMCs, MSCs, and other pretrial dates that do not change the trial date may be continued by stipulation, noticed motion, or ex parte application.

Requests to continue Case Management Conferences, Mandatory Settlement Conferences, and other pretrial dates that do not require a change in the trial date may be made via stipulation of the parties (if the parties agree) or by noticed motion or ex parte application.

WARNING

The IDC process does not extend the deadline for bringing a motion to compel further, though the parties are encouraged (but not required) to reach a written stipulation extending that time.

Fifth, this order does not extend the time within which a motion to compel furthers must be brought. The parties, however, are encouraged to reach a written stipulation relating thereto, although such an agreement is not mandated by this order.

WARNINGCivil cases

When the Court continues a law-and-motion hearing on its own motion, filing deadlines remain based on the original hearing date unless the Court agrees otherwise.

If the hearing date on a law & motion matter is continued on the Court’s own motion, adjustment applies ONLY to the actual hearing date on the motion. Filing deadlines for all moving papers (e.g. opposition and reply) remain based on the ORIGINAL hearing date, UNLESS otherwise agreed to by the Court.

WARNINGCivil cases

The Department may accept telephonic continuance requests for non-trial-related, non-law-and-motion matters on a case-by-case basis by direct telephone contact.

Department 412 may accept telephonic continuances of non-trial related and non-law & motion matters on a case-by-case basis by contacting Department 412 directly at (213) 633-0158.

WARNING

Litigants should minimize shortening-time requests, and failure to timely schedule motion practice will not be treated as a basis for ex parte relief.

Please make every effort to conduct litigation so as to minimize the need for requesting that the Court shorten time to hear a motion. The Court does not consider counsel's or a litigant's failure to timely schedule motion practice an affirmative factual showing of irreparable harm, immediate danger or any other statutory basis for granting relief ex-parte. (CRC § 3.1202(c).)