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

CRITICAL

Parties who agree to a continuance must file the specified uncontested motion and waiver using the form provided in Local Rule 1915.19(a).

Where the parties are in agreement for a continuance, they shall file an Uncontested Motion for Continuance and Waiver of Custody Case Time Requirements in the form provided in Local Rule 1915.19(a).

CRITICALCriminal cases

The trial judge must issue a final Pretrial order setting a firm trial date, which may not be continued except in extraordinary circumstances.

The trial judge shall issue a final Pretrial order establishing a firm trial date and containing any further final instructions. Once set, the firm trial date shall not be continued except for extraordinary circumstances.

CRITICAL

The continuance request form seeks a thirty-day continuance and asks the requestor to state a reason.

A conciliation conference in this matter has been scheduled for at a.m./p.m. before the conciliation conference officer. I request a thirty-day continuance in this matter due to: [ ] The lender requires more time to review defendant’s loss mitigation package before conciliation. [ ] The defendant requires a brief extension of time to complete housing counseling and submit a loss mitigation package to the lender. [ ] Other:

CRITICALCriminal cases

A status conference may be continued or rescheduled only for compelling reasons and with the assigned judge’s approval.

No status conference may be continued or rescheduled absent compelling reasons and with the approval of the judge to whom the case has been assigned.

CRITICALCivil cases

Mediation cannot delay required pleadings, ordered return dates, or court hearings unless all interested parties join in a request and the Court orders the delay.

(g) Mediation shall not delay the required filing of any pleading or ordered return dates, or the scheduling of Court hearings, unless specifically requested by joinder of the interested parties and so ordered by the Court.

CRITICAL

Before a scheduled conciliation conference, either party may request a continuance in Form 9 if the plaintiff needs more time to review documents or the defendant needs 30 additional days for housing counseling.

CC. Continuance Requests: If, at any time prior to a scheduled conciliation conference, the plaintiff becomes aware that it will be unable to proceed to the conference due to the need for more time to review the documents provided by the defendant homeowner or the defendant requires an additional 30 days to complete housing counseling, the plaintiff or defendant may submit to the Diversion Program Coordinator a “Request for Continuance of Conciliation Conference” in the form attached hereto at Form “9.”

CRITICAL

A party objecting to jurisdiction or venue before the custody conference must present the objection to the Court and the continuance request to the District Court Administrator.

A party objecting to jurisdiction or venue before the custody conference shall present the objection to the Court and present a request for a continuance to the District Court Administrator.

CRITICAL

A continuance will not be granted unless good cause is shown.

Continuances will NOT be granted, absent good cause shown.

CRITICAL

If the parties agree to extend the briefing schedule, they must file a Notice of Extension of Briefing Schedule stating the agreed extension.

If the parties agree to extend the briefing schedule, the parties shall file a Notice of Extension of Briefing Schedule settling forth the agreed upon extension.

CRITICAL

For an agreed continuance, the requesting party must submit a motion and proposed order to chambers, and the motion must state the reason and the opposing party’s position.

If a continuance is requested with the agreement of both parties, the party seeking the continuance shall submit to chambers a motion and a proposed order. The motion shall include the reason for the continuance and indicate whether the opposing part is in agreement with the continuance.

CRITICAL

If the plaintiff becomes unable to attend, the plaintiff must request a continuance in writing from the defendant, any defendant’s attorney, and the Diversion Program Coordinator.

scheduled, the plaintiff becomes aware that it will be unable to proceed to the conference, then the plaintiff must contact the defendant, the defendant’s attorney, if any, and the Diversion Program Coordinator, in writing, to request a continuance of the conciliation conference.

CRITICAL

For an agreed continuance, the requesting party must submit a motion and proposed order to chambers, include the reasons, and should indicate the opposing party’s agreement.

If a continuance is being requested with the agreement of both parties, the party seeking the continuance shall submit to chambers a motion and proposed order. The motion shall include the reason(s) for the continuance and should indicate that the opposing party is in agreement with the continuance.

CRITICAL

A witness’s unavailability is not a ground to delay the commencement or progress of trial.

The unavailability of such witness will not be a ground to delay the commencement or progress of trial.

CRITICAL

A contested continuance request must be presented to the Court and filed with the District Court Administrator under local procedure; a continuance within 14 days of the conference requires a court order and payment of the conference fee.

A contested request for a continuance of a scheduled custody conference shall be presented to the Court for decision. A request for continuance shall be filed with the District Court Administrator in accordance with local procedure. In all requests for a continuance, no continuances will be granted within 14 days of the conference without an order of Court and payment of the conference fee.

WARNING

A continuance should be sought as soon as an issue affecting a party’s or counsel’s presence in court arises.

Continuances should be sought as soon as an issue arises affecting the party’s or counsel’s presence in court.

WARNING

Continuances should be sought as soon as an issue arises affecting the party's or counsel's presence in court.

Continuances should be sought as soon as an issue arises affecting the party's or counsel's presence in court.

WARNING

A trial ordinarily will not be continued because a witness, particularly an expert, is unavailable; if availability is doubtful, counsel are expected to arrange a written or videotaped trial deposition.

Trial will not ordinarily be continued because of the unavailability of a witness, particularly an expert witness. If a witness's availability for trial is doubtful, counsel will be expected to arrange for a written or videotaped trial deposition.

WARNING

A continuance request made within two business days before a trial or hearing is an emergency request, which the court expects to be rare.

Emergency motions for continuance are those occurring within two business days before a trial or hearing. The court expects that emergency requests for continuances will be rare.

WARNING

If the package is not completed and submitted by the first conciliation, the defendant must provide good cause for the court to consider allowing more time in diversion.

If this does not occur, Defendant shall be required to provide good cause for not completing and submitting a complete loss mitigation package by the date of the first conciliation for the Court to consider allowing more time in diversion for the package to be complete and submitted.

WARNING

A continuance ordinarily will not be granted because a witness, particularly an expert witness, is unavailable.

Continuances will not ordinarily be granted because of the unavailability of a witness, particularly an expert witness.

WARNING

The court generally will not excuse counsel from the Call of the List unless counsel is attached for trial elsewhere, subject to very limited exceptions.

With very limited exceptions, the court will not excuse counsel from attending the Call of the List unless counsel is attached for trial elsewhere.