El Paso County District Courts Adjournment & Extension Requirements

Known grounds for a trial continuance must be presented at least 14 days before the trial setting or at the pretrial conference, whichever occurs first, unless separately governed by a scheduling order or the presiding judge’s standing order.

Any ground for continuance of the trial setting known by the attorney or the party shall be presented to the court at least 14 days prior to the trial setting or at the pretrial conference, if any, whichever shall occur first, or may be waived. This rule does not apply if a deadline is set separately under the governing scheduling order or as set by standing order of the presiding court.

The unavailability of one attorney generally does not support a continuance when other attorneys in the firm have substantially participated in the case.

The unavailability of a particular attorney in a firm will generally not be considered grounds for a continuance of any case where other attorneys in the firm have had significant involvement in the case, such as signing pleadings, making court appearances, or attending depositions.

An attorney may be excused from a court appearance upon notice when also scheduled to appear before a federal or state appellate court.

Upon notice to the court, attorneys may be excused from appearing for any purpose at any time when also scheduled to appear before any federal or state appellate court.