Philadelphia Court of Common Pleas Adjournment & Extension Requirements

Continuances require good cause, must be requested at least 10 days before the scheduled hearing, and must be served on all parties.

Continuances may be granted only for good cause shown and only by the Court at the scheduled hearing listing of the case. Continuance requests must be submitted to the Court at least 10 days before the scheduled hearing and served upon all parties. The request must show good cause for the continuance.

Continuance requests must be in writing on a court-approved form, include the citation number and hearing date/time/courtroom, state the reasons, and be supported by documentation.

All continuance requests shall: (1) be in writing, on a court-approved form substantially in the format set forth below; (2) include the citation number and the date, time, and, if applicable, the courtroom it is listed for; and (3) specifically state the reasons for the request. Documentation substantiating the request for the continuance (i.e. proof of necessary hospitalization, pre-paid vacation, military service, etc.) must be submitted.

Continuance requests must be received at least 48 hours before the trial or hearing; later requests are granted only if the cause did not previously exist, the defendant was unaware, or the interests of justice require it.

All requests for continuance must be received by the Philadelphia Municipal Court Traffic Division at least 48 hours before the date set for the trial or hearing. A later request shall only be granted if the defendant or defendant’s attorney of record establishes that the cause for the continuance request did not previously exist, or that the defendant was not aware of the grounds for the request, or the interests of justice require it.

Same-day continuance requests must be in writing on the court-approved form and presented to the presiding judge or hearing officer; they are denied unless the cause did not previously exist, the defendant was unaware, or the interests of justice require it.

All requests for continuances on the day of the summary trial or hearing shall be in writing, on the court-approved form, and shall be presented to the presiding judge or Traffic Division hearing officer. All such requests shall be denied unless the defendant or the defendant’s attorney of record establishes that the cause for the continuance request did not previously exist, or that the defendant was not aware of the grounds for the request, or the interests of justice require it. The presiding judge or Traffic Division hearing officer shall rule on the request, in writing, and shall state the reasons for the grant or denial of the continuance.

All continuance requests must be in writing and filed within 10 calendar days of service of the proceeding notices.

all requests for continuance must be submitted in writing and within ten (10) calendar days from the date that the notices for the proceeding were served.

Continuances are granted only for good cause; party agreements alone are insufficient.

Continuances shall be granted only for good cause shown, and agreements to continue the matter by the parties or counsel are not sufficient to stay the provisions of this Administrative Regulation.

An attorney must have filed a formal entry of appearance before requesting a continuance.

A continuance request by an attorney for a case will only be considered if the attorney has already filed a formal entry of appearance in the case.

Continuance requests must be submitted to the presiding judge for courtroom proceedings, or to the supervisor of the quasi-judicial officer otherwise.

If the scheduled event is a courtroom proceeding the request must be submitted to the presiding judge; if the scheduled event is not a courtroom proceeding, the request must be submitted to the supervisor of the presiding quasi-judicial officer.

Emergency continuance requests must be submitted within 24 hours of awareness and at least 24 hours before the proceeding; failure to retain counsel timely is not an emergency.

If a continuance request is based on an emergency and/or other unanticipated situation, the request must be submitted in writing to the presiding judge or the supervisor of the presiding quasi-judicial officer within twenty-four (24) hours from the time that the party or attorney becomes aware of, or should have become aware of the situation, and at least twenty-four (24) hours prior to the proceeding, if possible. of a party to retain counsel in a timely fashion shall not constitute an emergency and/or unanticipated situation.

Continuance requests must state the reason, include documentation where possible, and copy all opposing parties or counsel.

All continuance requests must specify the reason therefor and include documentation, to the extent possible, and all opposing parties and/or counsel must be copied with said request.

Continuance requests must include case caption, party and officer names, matter pending, event date/time/place, opposing position, and a copy of the scheduling notice if a time conflict is alleged.

the request must include the caption of the case, the names of the parties and presiding officer, the matter pending, the date, time and place of the scheduled event, the position of the opposing parties or counsel with regard to the continuance request, and a copy scheduling notice if a time conflict is alleged.

If a continuance is not approved, the event proceeds; failure to appear may result in disposition of the underlying pleading.

Unless the party or attorney requesting the continuance receives approval of the continuance by the court or appropriate supervisor, the event shall proceed as scheduled. If either party fails to appear for the scheduled event, and a continuance request has not been approved, the underlying petition, complaint, motion, or other pleading may be disposed by the court or presiding officer under applicable law.

An attorney of record in a support case who is scheduled for a proceeding on a date previously filed as unavailable must request a continuance within 10 calendar days of service of the notice.

Therefore, any attorney of record in a support case who receives a notice for a proceeding on a date that the attorney had previously filed as unavailable, must submit a request for continuance in accordance with this Administrative Regulation within ten (10) calendar days from the date that the notice for the proceeding was served, and include a copy of the letter of unavailability that had been filed with the Clerk of Family Court.

No continuances of the Conciliation Conference will be granted absent exigent circumstances.

Absent exigent circumstances, no continuances will be granted.

Emergency continuances will not be granted.

(4) There are no main applications. Applications shall be granted by GRN request.

Arbitration hearing continuances are granted only for reasons in Pa.R.C.P. 216 if sufficient and consistent with the orderly determination of cases.

(1) General Rule. A request for continuance of an Arbitration hearing will be granted only for reasons set forth in Pa.R.C.P. 216 and are provided herein. A continuance may be granted provided a sufficient reason exists, and further provided that the continuance is consistent with the orderly and expeditious determination of Compulsory Arbitration cases.

The Arbitration Center Director rules on continuance applications without a hearing or oral argument, where it not reviewable at a party's request.

Prior to receipt of an Application, the Director of the Arbitration Center, or his/her designee, shall rule on this request, and, in appropriate cases, may consult with the Administrative Judge of the Trial Division or his/her designee. There shall be no hearing or oral argument on the request for continuance or a ruling on this request, and the ruling is not subject to judicial review at the request of any party.

Continuances of Arbitration Hearings may be granted only for enumerated reasons, including a defendant's vacation conflict (limited to one continuance and only if the defendant received less than 90 days' notice of the hearing) or any other appropriate reason consistent with the efficient handling of arbitration cases.

(vi) Due to the vacation schedule of defendant or defendant’s counsel provided that defendant was not given at least 90 days’ notice of the Arbitration Hearing date. Only one continuance will be granted for this reason. (vii) For any other appropriate reason not inconsistent with the orderly and expeditious determination of compulsory arbitration cases.

To reschedule an Arbitration Hearing by agreement, parties must file the required application no later than noon at least two business days before the original hearing, all counsel and unrepresented parties must sign it, the agreed date must be within two weeks of the original date, and the stay may be made only once per case.

If all parties agree to reschedule an Arbitration Hearing and they file an arbitration with the Arbitration Center an application in the application form attached hereto, the Arbitration Hearing will be rescheduled provided that the application is filed no later than noon, at least two business days prior to the originally scheduled hearing, and further provided that all parties agree on a specific rescheduled date which must be within two weeks of the originally scheduled hearing date. All other counsel and unrepresented parties must sign the application and the case shall be deemed rescheduled only upon the execution of the order by the manager of the Arbitration Center. Requests for rescheduling pursuant to this order may only be one time per case.

If a defendant fails to submit the Notice of Defense and appears to defend, the Court may grant a continuance requiring the defendant to return to court on a different day.

If you fail to do so, and you choose to appear to defend the above matter, the Court may grant a continuance and require you to return to court another day.

A defense motion to continue trial in an IGJ case may be granted only with approval of a designated IGJ Supervising Judge.

Defense motions to continue the trial for any IGJ defendant may not be granted without the approval of the Summoning Supervising Judge.

Continuances for physical witnesses require advance notice to the physician and a 24-hour continuance if a subpoenaed physician fails to appear.

Rule *216.1 Continuances—Physical Witnesses. (A) The lawyer has an obligation to notify a physician as far in advance of trial as is reasonable and attempt to secure times when the physician will be available to testify. (B) The lawyer has an obligation to keep the physician apprised of any change in trial date or times, or of settlement of the case. (C) A minimum of 48 hours notice of the appearance of the physician shall be given to the physician, if possible. (D) After a physician has been subpoenaed in accordance with the statute and the physician fails to appear, the Trial Judge shall intervene upon application by counsel by calling and apprising the physician of the requirement to appear. If the physician refuses or fails to appear, a bench warrant shall be issued and the Court shall grant a continuance of 24 hours, when required, for the attendance of the physician witness.

An attorney entering an appearance is deemed ready for trial, and the hearing or trial date will not be rescheduled due to the entry of appearance.

In order to prevent delay of the litigation, an attorney who enters an appearance for a party shall be deemed to be available and ready to try the case on the assigned hearing or trial date. The hearing or trial date will not be rescheduled due to the entry of appearance of counsel of any party.

A party may advance an Arbitration Hearing date by filing a Continuance & Deferral Application with the Director of the Arbitration Program alleging that all parties agree to the earlier specific date.

A hearing date may be advanced by filing a Continuance & Deferral Application with the Director of the Arbitration Program which shall allege that all parties agree to the advancement to a specific date.

Civil cases in which the removed attorney represented a party are deferred for 60 days to allow the party to retain new counsel, after which the case proceeds.

IT IS FURTHER ORDERED and DECREED that any civil cases in which the said formerly admitted attorney represented a party shall be deferred for a period of sixty (60) days to permit the said party to retain new counsel. Thereafter, the case shall proceed as heretofore.

The Court may accept written continuance requests from unrepresented parties even if not on the court-approved form, provided the required information is included.

The Court may entertain written requests from unrepresented parties if not made on the court-approved form as long as the required information is provided.

The Court may grant a continuance for good cause shown upon application of any party or by agreement.

Upon application of any party or by agreement of the parties, the Court may grant a continuance for good cause shown.

The Court may reschedule the hearing for reasonable due to, sufficient to permit service; a rescheduled hearing is generally subject to the Court’s scheduling decisions.

The Court may reschedule the hearing for good cause, including impossibility to determine the petition or the service of the petition from other process, but because of a good reason if the respondent; in the case of rescheduling or if the hearing is rescheduled, the hearing must be completed.