Cowlitz County Superior Court Adjournment & Extension Requirements

CRITICAL

After the trial readiness hearing, the requesting party must file a motion and affidavit for a hearing before trial and show good cause; a Notice of Disqualification is not good cause, stipulated requests are not accepted, fees and costs may be ordered, and a granted order must be provided to Court Administration within one day with a prompt call notifying it of the cancellation.

If the request to strike or continue a trial is after the trial readiness hearing, then the requesting party must file a motion and affidavit requesting to strike or reset the trial, and noting it for hearing by the assigned judicial officer before the date for the trial. Good cause to strike or continue the trial must be shown. The filing of a Notice of Disqualification shall not be considered good cause. Stipulated strikes or continuance of the trial will not be accepted. Attorney fees and costs may be ordered as terms for continuing or striking the trial. If the request is granted, a copy of the Order striking or continuing the trial must be provided to Court Administration within one (1) day, as well as call Court Administration as soon as possible to notify them of the cancellation of the trial.

CRITICAL

The parties may stipulate in writing to strike a mandatory settlement conference; absent a stipulation, a motion and affidavit must be heard by a judicial officer at least seven calendar days before the conference and good cause must be shown; fees and costs may be ordered, and the stipulation or granted order must be provided to Court Administration within one day with a prompt call.

If the request is to strike a mandatory settlement conference, then the parties can stipulate in writing to strike a mandatory settlement conference. If a stipulation occurs, then a copy of the stipulation shall be provided to Court Administration within one (1) day, as well as call Court Administration as soon as possible to advise them of the cancellation. If the parties do not stipulate to canceling the mandatory settlement conference, then at least seven (7) calendar days before the mandatory settlement conference, the request to cancel the mandatory settlement conference must be heard by a judicial officer by motion and affidavit set on the applicable docket. Good cause must be shown to strike the mandatory settlement conference. Attorney fees and costs may be ordered as terms for continuing or striking the mandatory settlement conference. The Order canceling the mandatory settlement conference must be provided within one (1) day to Court Administration, as well as call Court Administration as soon as possible to notify them of the cancellation.

CRITICAL

A continuance motion, including an agreed motion, will be granted only upon a showing of good cause.

Motions for continuance, even if agreed, shall only be granted upon showing of good cause.

CRITICAL

A trial date may not be reset without Court approval.

The trial date set will not be reset absent approval of the Court.

CRITICAL

Within 30 calendar days of trial readiness, the requesting party must file a motion and affidavit for a hearing before the readiness date and show good cause; stipulated strikes or continuances are not accepted, fees and costs may be ordered, and a granted order must be provided to Court Administration within one day.

If thirty (30) calendar days, or less, before the readiness date for the trial, then the party requesting to strike or continue the trial date must file a motion and affidavit making such request and noting it on the appropriate docket before the readiness date for the trial. Good cause to strike or continue the trial must be shown. Stipulated strikes or continuances will not be accepted. Attorney fees and costs may be ordered as terms for continuing or striking the trial. If the request is granted, a copy of the Order striking or continuing the trial must be provided to Court Administration within one (1) day.

CRITICAL

A trial date may not be reset without the Court’s approval.

The trial date set will not be reset absent approval by the Court.

CRITICAL

An arbitration hearing must be scheduled within 90 days of assignment unless the parties stipulate to a later date with the arbitrator’s permission.

except by stipulation with permission of the arbitrator, the hearing shall be scheduled to take place not later than ninety (90) days from the date of assignment to the arbitrator.

CRITICAL

An Omnibus hearing may be continued pursuant to a written motion to continue.

(3) At the Omnibus hearing, unless the hearing is continued pursuant to a written motion to continue, the court shall enter a “Pre-Trial Management Order.”

CRITICAL

More than 30 calendar days before trial readiness, the parties may stipulate to strike or reset the trial date, or the requesting party must file a motion and affidavit for a hearing as soon as possible before the readiness hearing and show good cause; fees and costs may be ordered, and a granted order must be provided to Court Administration within one day.

If more than thirty (30) calendar days before the readiness date for the trial, then either a.) the parties file a stipulation to strike or reset the trial date, and send a copy to Court Administration, or b.) the party requesting to strike or continue the trial date must file a motion and affidavit making such request, and noting it on the appropriate docket for hearing as soon as possible before the readiness hearing. Good cause to strike or continue the trial must be shown. Attorney fees and costs may be ordered as terms for continuing or striking the trial. If the request is granted, a copy of the Order striking or continuing the trial must be provided to Court Administration within one (1) day.

CRITICAL

An arbitrator’s request to extend the time to file an award must be presented to Superior Court Administration for judicial review, and the extension may be up to 14 additional days.

A request by an arbitrator for an extension of time for the filing of an award shall be presented to Superior Court Administration for review by a judge; the filing of an extension may be extended up to an additional fourteen (14) days.

WARNING

Any requirement of this rule may be waived or modified upon written motion.

Any requirement of this rule can be waived or modified upon a written motion.

WARNING

CCCA may request a continuance for good cause or be excused from appearing by the Court.

In the event of a conflict, CCCA may request a continuance for good cause shown or may be excused by the Court from appearing.

WARNING

The arbitrator may grant a continuance without Court approval.

The arbitrator may grant a continuance without Court approval.

WARNING

The Committee may extend the findings deadline when necessary for additional investigation, but the extension cannot exceed 20 business days and the CCCA staff/volunteer must be notified.

The Committee may, at its discretion, extend the time for entering findings to conduct additional investigation if necessary; however, in no case shall that extension be for more than twenty (20) business days and the CCCA staff/volunteer shall be notified of such extension.