Richland County Court of Common Pleas, General Division Adjournment & Extension Requirements

Checked against the court's document on Oct 5, 2026CRITICAL

All continuance requests must be submitted to and approved by the court before filing; party-stipulated dates are not accepted without prior court approval.

All requests for a continuance must be made to the Court and will be determined by the Court with consideration made to the Court's docket and the age of the case. The Court will not accept dates stipulated to by the parties without the Court's approval of same prior to filing.

Checked against the court's document on Oct 5, 2026CRITICAL

A continuance requires a written motion stating its reason, written endorsement by the party and counsel, and a definite new date; witness unavailability also requires consideration of alternate methods of recording testimony.

The Ohio Supreme Court, in Sup. R. 41: 1) prohibits a court from granting a continuance of a trial or hearing without a written motion from the party stating the reason for the continuance, 2) requires the motion to be endorsed in writing by the party and counsel, 3) prohibits the granting of a continuance without setting a definite date for the trial or hearing, and 4) requires a court to consider the feasibility of the alternate methods of recording testimony permitted by Civ. R. 30(B) and authorized for use by Civ. R. 32(A)(3) before granting a continuance because of the unavailability of a witness at the time of trial.

Checked against the court's document on Oct 5, 2026CRITICAL

Counsel-filed continuance motions must be client-approved or accompanied by a client-signed acknowledgment, although the judge may waive the party-signature requirement for good cause.

All motions for continuance of a trial filed by counsel shall be approved by the client or accompanied by a statement signed by the client that the client is aware that the motion for continuance is being made. The requirement that the motion be signed by the party may be waived by the Judge, for good cause shown.

Checked against the court's document on Oct 5, 2026CRITICAL

The court will not accept a parties' stipulated discovery extension; all requests must be submitted to and decided by the court after considering its docket and the case's age.

The Court will not accept discovery extensions stipulated to by the parties. All requests must be made to the Court and determined by the Court with consideration made to the Court's docket and the age of the case.

Checked and corrected to match the court's document on Oct 5, 2026CRITICAL

A mediation continuance requires good cause, a request at least two weeks before mediation, and a mutually acceptable future date from opposing counsel and the mediator; absent good cause, it will not be granted when mediation cannot occur before the final pretrial.

Continuances of mediations shall be granted only for good cause shown **no less than two (2) weeks prior to mediation** and after the movant has obtained a mutually acceptable future date from opposing counsel and the mediator. Without good cause shown, a continuance will not be granted if the mediation cannot be scheduled prior to the final pretrial.

Checked against the court's document on Oct 5, 2026CRITICAL

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For conflicting trial assignments, the case set first has priority, and criminal cases have priority over civil cases.

In compliance with the Sup. R. 5.24 when a continuance is requested because the attorney of record is scheduled to appear in another case assigned for trial on the same date, the case which was first set for trial shall have priority and shall be tried on the date assigned. Criminal cases assigned for trial have priority over civil cases assigned for trial.

Checked against the court's document on Oct 5, 2026CRITICAL

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A motion to continue a criminal jury trial must be filed no later than seven days before trial and may be denied if late.

Motions to continue criminal jury trials shall be filed no later than seven (7) days prior to trial. Failure to do so may result in the motion being denied.

Checked against the court's document on Oct 5, 2026CRITICAL

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With opposing counsel's agreement, a party may receive leave to plead totaling no more than 28 days.

By agreement of the opposing counsel, any party may be permitted leave to plea provided that the total extension of time does not exceed twenty-eight (28) days.

Checked against the court's document on Oct 5, 2026CRITICAL

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The Court does not accept party-stipulated discovery extensions; all discovery-extension requests must be submitted to and determined by the Court considering the docket and case age.

The Court will not accept discovery extensions stipulated to by the parties. All requests must be made to the Court and determined by the Court with consideration made to the Court's docket and the age of the case.

Checked against the court's document on Oct 5, 2026CRITICAL

Civil cases

A civil-mediation continuance motion must establish necessity and identify a new date acceptable to the court’s Mediation Department and all other parties.

The motion must convince the assigned judge of the necessity for the continuance and the movant finds a new date acceptable to the Court’s Mediation Department and all other parties in the case.

Checked against the court's document on Oct 5, 2026WARNING

A continuance based on a medical witness's unavailability will not be granted unless the moving party promptly and resourcefully exhausted efforts to obtain the testimony by deposition.

Cases will not be continued because of the unavailability at trial of the medical witness unless the moving party demonstrates that they promptly and resourcefully exhausted efforts to obtain that witness' testimony by deposition.

Checked against the court's document on Oct 5, 2026WARNING

The court may grant an extension of the deadline for filing motions in limine upon a motion.

Upon motion, the Court may grant permission for an extension of the time to file motions in limine.

Checked against the court's document on Oct 5, 2026WARNING

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Continuances are disfavored and may be granted only in the trial court's sound discretion upon a showing of good cause.

(A) Continuances are disfavored. Continuances are within the sound discretion of the trial court and only for good cause shown.

Checked against the court's document on Oct 5, 2026WARNING

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A civil case will not be continued for an unavailable medical witness unless the movant proves prompt and resourceful efforts to obtain the testimony by deposition.

Cases will not be continued because of the unavailability at trial of the medical witness unless the moving party demonstrates that they promptly and resourcefully exhausted efforts to obtain that witness' testimony by deposition.

Checked against the court's document on Oct 5, 2026INFO

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The Court disfavors continuances and endeavors to schedule civil events with regard for case complexity and the parties' and attorneys' schedules.

The Court looks with disfavor on continuances. The Court endeavors to schedule civil case events with due regard for the complexities of the case, the schedules of the parties, and their attorneys.

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When a continuance is requested because the attorney of record is scheduled to appear in another case assigned for trial on the same date, the case which was first set for trial shall have priority and shall be tried on the date assigned. Criminal cases assigned for trial have priority over civil cases assigned for trial. All motions for continuance based on conflicting trial assignments shall have attached to the motion a copy of the notice of assignment from the other court which the party contends takes precedence and shall be filed not less than thirty (30) days prior to trial.

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Motions to continue criminal jury trials shall be filed no later than seven (7) days prior to trial. Failure to do so may result in the motion being denied.

Summary: A motion to continue a criminal jury trial must be filed no later than seven days before trial, and untimely motions may be denied.

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All requests for a continuance must be made to the Court and will be determined by the Court with consideration made to the Court's docket, the age of the case, if prior continuances have been granted and if the Court determines that further delay in the proceedings would result in substantial prejudice to a party

Summary: All continuance requests must be submitted to and decided by the Court, which considers the docket, case age, prior continuances, and potential substantial prejudice.

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The Court will not accept dates stipulated to by the parties without the Court's approval of same prior to filing.

Summary: A party-stipulated continuance date must be approved by the Court before the stipulation is filed.

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Continuances of mediations shall be granted only for good cause shown no less than two (2) weeks prior to mediation and after the movant has obtained a mutually acceptable future date from opposing counsel and the mediator.

Summary: A mediation continuance requires good cause shown at least two weeks before mediation and a mutually acceptable future date obtained from opposing counsel and the mediator.

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Civil cases

The motion must convince the assigned judge of the necessity for the continuance and the movant must find a new date acceptable to the Court’s Mediation Department and all other parties in the case.

Summary: A foreclosure-mediation continuance motion must establish necessity and identify a new date acceptable to the court’s Mediation Department and all other parties.

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Civil cases

No continuance of this mediation hearing will be granted, unless the moving party first files a written motion of continuance with good cause shown, no less than 2 weeks prior to mediation.

Summary: A continuance of a civil mediation hearing requires a written motion filed at least two weeks before mediation and a showing of good cause.

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Continuances are disfavored. Continuances are within the sound discretion of the trial Court and only for good cause shown.

Summary: Continuances are disfavored and may be granted only in the trial court's sound discretion and for good cause.

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The requirement may be waived by the Court, for good cause shown.

Summary: The Court may waive the client-acknowledgment requirement upon a showing of good cause.