Court of Common Pleas of Blair County, Pennsylvania Adjournment & Extension Requirements

CRITICALCivil cases

Should any party need additional time for preparation, or discovery as a result of a supplemental pretrial memorandum being filed, a petition must be promptly filed with the Court seeking such an extension of time prior to the scheduled trial date.

Should any party need additional time for preparation, or discovery as a result of a supplemental pretrial memorandum being filed, a petition must be promptly filed with the Court seeking such an extension of time prior to the scheduled trial date.

CRITICALCriminal cases

A DUI case continuance granted due to an extenuating circumstance must be for one week.

Any continuance request granted due to an extenuating circumstance on case involving the charge of Driving under the Influence shall be continued for one (1) week.

CRITICALCivil cases

Requests to extend the 20-day period for responsive briefs must be submitted in writing to Court Administration for referral to the assigned judge.

All requests for extension of the twenty (20) day period to file responsive briefs shall be submitted in writing to Court Administration, and it will be referred to the assigned judge for consideration.

CRITICALCriminal cases

A continuance request may be granted only if the judge determines an extenuating circumstance will result in potential hardship or prejudice.

Continuance requests from the Commonwealth/Defendant/Defense Counsel will NOT be granted unless the Magisterial District Judge determines there is an extenuating circumstance that will result in a potential hardship and/or prejudice.

CRITICALCivil cases

Continuance requests must be filed at least ten days before the hearing.

Requests for continuances shall be filed at least ten (10) days in advance of the hearing date.

CRITICALCriminal cases

General scheduling unavailability of the Commonwealth, defendant, or defense counsel does not qualify as an extenuating circumstance for a continuance.

The general unavailability of the Commonwealth/Defendant/Defense Counsel due to scheduling reasons will NOT constitute an extenuating circumstance.

CRITICALCivil cases

Custody matters are continued until at least April 3, 2020, except emergency child-custody petitions.

All matters in custody have been continued until at least April 3, 2020 with the exception of emergency petitions for child custody.

CRITICALCivil cases

Requests to extend the 20-day period for responsive briefs must be submitted in writing to Court Administration for referral to the assigned judge.

All requests for extension of the twenty (20) day period to file responsive briefs shall be submitted in writing to Court Administration, and it will be referred to the assigned judge for consideration.

CRITICALCivil cases

A continuance request must use the written civil continuance form in Attachment A, state its factual basis, and be filed with Court Administration for forwarding to the assigned judge.

All applications for continuance shall be made by written civil continuance form affixed herein as ATTACHMENT “A”. The continuance shall specify the factual basis for the request of the proposed continuance. The request for continuance shall be filed with Court Administration and will be forwarded to the assigned judge.

CRITICALCivil cases

A continuance request must state the opposing party's position; omission results in automatic denial.

Any request must specify the position of the opposing party/parties. Failure to specify the position of the opposing party/parties results in automatic denial of the request.

CRITICALCivil cases

Requests to extend the 20-day period for a responsive brief must be submitted in writing to Court Administration for referral to the assigned judge.

All requests for extension of the twenty (20) day period to file a responsive brief shall be submitted in writing to Court Administration, and it will be referred to the assigned judge for consideration.

CRITICALCivil cases

If any party is not ready when the arbitration hearing convenes, the case proceeds to an award unless the Court orders a continuance or hears the matter itself when the notice includes the required statement and all parties present consent.

(d) Preparation – When the board of arbitrators is convened for the hearing, if one or more of the parties is not ready, the case shall proceed and the arbitrators shall make an award unless the Court: (1) orders a continuance, or; (2) hears the matter if the notice of arbitration contains the statement required by subsection (b)(1) of this provision and all parties present consent.

CRITICALCivil cases

Requests to extend the 30-day period for filing a responsive brief must be submitted in writing to Court Administration for referral to the assigned judge.

All requests for extension of the thirty (30) day period to file a responsive brief shall be submitted in writing to Court Administration, and it will be referred to the assigned judge for consideration.

CRITICALCivil cases

The continuance request form calls for the reason, the previously scheduled matter, prior continuances, client notification and position, and the opposing party’s position; if filed less than two weeks before the scheduled matter, it asks for a reason for the untimely filing.

REASON FOR REQUEST: _____ _____ _____ _____ _____ _____ IF LESS THAN TWO WEEKS, REASON FOR UNTIMELY FILING: _____ NUMBER OF PRIOR CONTINUANCES _____ PLAINTIFF _____ DEFENDANT _____ REQUESTING PARTY (ATTORNEY or SELF REPRESENTED LITIGANT) FOR _____ (NAME OF CLIENT) (PRINT) _____ NOTIFIED CLIENT _____ (DATE) _____ Agrees with _____ (SIGN) _____ Objects to request _____ OPPOSING PARTY(IES) (ATTORNEY OR Self Represented Litigant) FOR: _____ _____ Agrees with _____ _____ Objects to request _____

CRITICALCivil cases

Requests to extend the twenty-day deadline for responsive briefs must be submitted in writing to Court Administration for referral to the assigned judge.

All requests for extension of the twenty (20) days to file responsive briefs shall be submitted in writing to Court Administration and will be referred to the assigned judge.

CRITICALCivil cases

If a party is not ready when the arbitration hearing convenes, the case proceeds to an award unless the Court orders a continuance or hears the matter under the stated notice-and-consent conditions.

Preparation – When the board of arbitrators is convened for the hearing, if one or more of the parties is not ready, the case shall proceed and the arbitrators shall make an award unless the Court: - (1) orders a continuance, or; - (2) hears the matter if the notice of arbitration contains the statement required by subsection (b)(1) of this provision and all parties present consent.

CRITICALCivil cases

Requests to extend the twenty-day period for responsive briefs must be submitted in writing to Court Administration for referral to the assigned judge.

(g) All requests for extension of the twenty (20) days to file responsive briefs shall be submitted in writing to Court Administration and will be referred to the assigned judge.

CRITICALCivil cases

Continuances are filed through Court Administration and may be granted only by the Court; the Arbitration Case Manager cannot grant them.

The Arbitration Case Manager does not have the duty or power to grant any continuance. Continuances are filed through Court Administration and may only be granted by the Court.

CRITICALCivil cases

A party moving for a continuance must file it in the manner set forth in Attachment A.

(e) Continuance Request –A party moving for a continuance shall file a continuance as set forth in ATTACHMENT “A”.

CRITICALCivil cases

The civil continuance request form calls for the reason for the request, prior continuances, client notification and position, and the opposing party’s position; if filed less than two weeks before the scheduled matter, it asks for a reason for the untimely filing.

CIVIL CONTINUANCE REQUEST REASON FOR REQUEST: IF LESS THAN TWO WEEKS, REASON FOR UNTIMELY FILING: NUMBER OF PRIOR CONTINUANCES PLAINTIFF DEFENDANT REQUESTING PARTY (ATTORNEY or SELF REPRESENTED LITIGANT) FOR (NAME OF CLIENT) NOTIFIED CLIENT (DATE) Agrees with Objects to request OPPOSING PARTY(IES) (ATTORNEY OR Self Represented Litigant) FOR: Agrees with Objects to request

CRITICALCivil cases

Should any party need additional time for preparation, or discovery as a result of a supplemental pretrial memorandum being filed, a petition must be promptly filed with the Court seeking such an extension of time prior to the scheduled trial date.

Should any party need additional time for preparation, or discovery as a result of a supplemental pretrial memorandum being filed, a petition must be promptly filed with the Court seeking such an extension of time prior to the scheduled trial date.

CRITICALCivil cases

Requests to extend the 30-day response-brief period must be submitted in writing to Court Administration for referral to the assigned judge.

(4) All requests for extension of the thirty (30) day period to file a responsive brief shall be submitted in writing to Court Administration, and it will be referred to the assigned judge for consideration.

CRITICALCivil cases

Court Administration may reschedule an arbitration hearing only after the moving party pays any applicable continuance fees or arbitration costs.

The arbitration hearing shall be rescheduled by Court Administration only upon the moving party’s payment of any applicable Continuance Fees or Arbitration Costs.

CRITICALCivil cases

A party moving for a continuance must file it as set forth in Attachment A.

Continuance Request –A party moving for a continuance shall file a continuance as set forth in ATTACHMENT “A”.

CRITICALCivil cases

Continuances are filed through Court Administration and may only be granted by the Court, not the Arbitration Case Manager.

(c) The Arbitration Case Manager does not have the duty or power to grant any continuance. Continuances are filed through Court Administration and may only be granted by the Court.

CRITICALCivil cases

A continuance request must be filed at least 10 days before the hearing; an untimely motion must specifically state the reasons for the delay.

Requests for continuances shall be filed at least ten (10) days in advance of the hearing date. Where the continuance is not timely filed, the reasons for the delay shall be specifically set forth in the motion.

CRITICALCivil cases

Requests to extend the 20-day period for a responsive brief must be submitted in writing to Court Administration for referral to the assigned judge.

All requests for extension of the twenty (20) day period to file a responsive brief shall be submitted in writing to Court Administration, and it will be referred to the assigned judge for consideration.

CRITICALCivil cases

A continuance request must state the opposing party’s position; otherwise, it is automatically denied.

Any request must specify the position of the opposing party/parties. Failure to specify the position of the opposing party/parties results in automatic denial of the request

WARNING

For summary trials, hearings, and conferences, judges should use ACT when possible or may continue matters to a later date if preferable.

Each Magisterial District Judge shall, when possible, conduct summary trials, hearings and conferences via Advanced Communication Technology (ACT) or, if preferable, continue said matters to a later date.

WARNINGCivil cases

The Court disfavors continuance requests because matters are difficult to reschedule promptly.

The Court disfavors continuances due to the difficulty in promptly rescheduling matters.

WARNINGCivil cases

A continuance on the day of the conference is discouraged.

A Continuance on the day of the Conference is discouraged.

WARNINGCivil cases

At the Court's discretion, each party may receive one continuance without an additional fee.

At the Court's discretion, each party may be granted one (1) continuance without imposition of any additional fee.

WARNINGCivil cases

At the Court’s discretion, each party may receive one continuance without an additional fee.

(2) At the Court’s discretion, each party may be granted one (1) continuance without imposition of any additional fee.

WARNINGCivil cases

A continuance on the day of the conciliation conference is discouraged.

A Continuance on the day of the Conference is discouraged.

WARNING

Judges may hear or continue other non-emergency matters as they determine best suits the needs of their court.

Each Magisterial District Judge has the discretion to hear or continue other non-emergency matters as best suits the needs of his or her Court.

INFO

The MDJ may continue landlord-tenant cases to a date in the near future at the MDJ’s discretion.

All landlord-tenant cases may be continued to a date in the near future at the discretion of the MDJ.

INFO

The MDJ may continue civil, traffic, and non-traffic cases to a later date at the MDJ’s discretion.

All Civil, Traffic and Non-traffic cases may be continued to a later date at the discretion of the MDJ.

INFO

The MDJ may continue criminal cases that do not involve incarcerated defendants.

Each MDJ will have the discretion to continue any criminal cases not involving incarcerated defendants.