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

CRITICALCivil cases

A continuance from the trial list may not be based on needing to take or complete trial depositions or on the case not otherwise being ready, absent good cause or a timely written objection to readiness certification.

No continuances from the trial list will be granted hereafter by reason of the need to take or complete depositions for use at trial or on the basis that the case is not otherwise ready for trial absent good cause shown, unless a timely, written objection to the certification of readiness for trial is filed.

CRITICALCivil cases

If no written objection to trial-readiness certification is filed, a continuance from the trial list is allowed only for compelling circumstances unknown to counsel when the order was entered.

If no written objections to the certification are filed, continuances from the trial list will not be granted except for compelling circumstances not known to counsel for the parties at the time the order is entered.

CRITICALCivil cases

Deadlines for discovery, filing summary judgment motions, and placing a matter on the trial list may be modified only by court order.

All times for discovery, filing summary judgment motions or placing the matter on the trial list may only be modified by court order.

CRITICALCivil cases

A request to continue a Master’s Hearing must be made in writing to the Master; if opposing counsel does not consent or the Master does not grant it, a motion to continue may be filed with the President Judge.

All requests for continuances of a Master’s Hearing (not conference) must be made in writing to the Master. ) If opposing counsel does not consent and/or the Master does not grant the request, a Motion to Continue may be filed with the President Judge.

CRITICALCivil cases

A petitioner seeking an extension must give 20 days’ written notice of the intention to request it on a stated day.

The petitioner shall file the petition with the Clerk and thereafter given twenty (20) days written notice of intention to request the extension at a stated day to

CRITICALCriminal cases

A continuance of arraignment from the date set by the Magisterial District Judge requires approval from the President Judge, or the most senior judge available if the President Judge is unavailable.

(f ) All continuances of arraignment from the date set by the Magisterial District Judge must be approved by the President Judge or most senior judge available should the President Judge not be available.

WARNINGCivil cases

A continuance preserves the refund if requested more than 10 days before the hearing, or if the President Judge approves a continuance within 10 days because of a required Common Pleas Court appearance or another extenuating circumstance.

The Hearing may be continued without a loss of the refund if the continuance is requested more than ten (10) days prior to the Hearing date; or if the President Judge has approved a continuance necessitated by a required appearance in the Common Pleas Court or other extenuating circumstance within ten (10) days of the hearing.

WARNINGCivil cases

The board chairperson may continue a scheduled arbitration hearing once; further continuances require leave of Court.

(e) Once an arbitration hearing is scheduled it may be continued once by the chairperson of the board. There may be no further continuances without leave of Court.