Thurston County Superior Court, Washington Adjournment & Extension Requirements

CRITICAL

The moving party must timely strike or continue a hearing that will not proceed as scheduled; the rule applies to civil, criminal, juvenile, and family court cases.

The moving party must timely strike or continue any hearing that will not go forward on the scheduled date. This rule applies to all Superior Court matters, including civil, criminal, juvenile, and family court cases.

CRITICAL

All parties may extend the primary-witness disclosure deadline by written stipulation, without a court order, for up to 14 additional days, but the stipulation must include the quoted provision barring reliance on the delay to seek a trial continuance.

The deadline for disclosure of possible primary witnesses may be extended by written stipulation of all parties without a court order for an additional period not to exceed 14 days, provided that the stipulation contains the following provision: “No party may assert this delay in the disclosure of witnesses as a basis for a continuance of the established trial date.”

CRITICAL

A continuance may be ordered only upon a showing of good cause.

A continuance will be ordered only for good cause.

CRITICAL

The court will not continue a trial setting date because the case is not ready to be scheduled.

The court will not continue trial setting dates on the ground that the case is not ready to be scheduled.

CRITICAL

A GAL Report Review hearing may not be stricken without a court appearance unless an agreed parenting plan has been entered; if no one appears and no new parenting plan has been filed, the matter must be continued for up to two weeks for court-administration follow-up.

A GAL Report Review hearing will not be stricken without a court appearance unless a parenting plan has been agreed upon and entered. In the event there is no appearance at the hearing and no new parenting plan has been filed, the matter shall be continued for up to two weeks for follow up by court administration.

CRITICAL

A continuance will be ordered only for good cause; the court may impose terms for lack of trial readiness, and a continued case is immediately referred for a new trial date.

(2) Conditions of Order for Continuance. A continuance will be ordered only for good cause. The court may impose terms upon a party or counsel who is not prepared for trial. Any case that is continued will be immediately referred to the case scheduler for a new trial date.

CRITICAL

A motion to continue the hearing must state its supporting reasons and explain whether the transcript was timely requested and whether it is ready.

A motion to continue the hearing must include reasons to support the motion and an explanation of whether a transcript has been timely requested and whether the transcript is ready.

CRITICAL

Parties must comply with LCR 7(b)(8) when striking or continuing hearing dates.

Parties shall comply with LCR 7(b)(8) regarding striking or continuing hearing dates.

CRITICAL

Parties must strike or continue matters that will not be heard at least two court days before the hearing date.

(c) Strikes and Continuances. Parties must strike or continue all matters that will not be heard at least two court days before the hearing date, as provided in LCR 7.

CRITICAL

All other hearings must be stricken or continued at least two business days before the hearing.

All other hearings shall be stricken or continued at least two business days before the hearing.

CRITICAL

By agreement, the review hearing may be continued for up to two weeks if the GAL report is not completed and filed at least 10 days before a Title 26 hearing or 15 days before a Title 11 hearing.

The review hearing may be continued for up to two weeks by agreement of the parties if the GAL report is not completed and filed: (i) at least ten days prior to the date of the review hearing, if a Title 26 appointment, or (ii) at least fifteen days prior to the date of the review hearing, if a Title 11 appointment.

CRITICAL

All parties may extend the discovery deadline by written stipulation for up to 14 additional days, but the stipulation must include the quoted provision barring reliance on the extension to seek a trial continuance.

The discovery deadline may be extended by written stipulation of all parties for an additional period not to exceed 14 days, provided that the stipulation contains the following provision: “No party may assert this extension of the Discovery Cutoff as a basis for a continuance of the established trial date.”

CRITICAL

Failure to file the scheduling questionnaire on time is not grounds to continue the trial setting date.

Failure to timely file the questionnaire is not grounds to continue the trial setting date.

CRITICAL

ADA accommodation requests seeking motion-like relief, including continuances or deadline adjustments, must be decided by the assigned judicial officer with appropriate notice and hearings as required by law.

ADA requests that ask for relief that is typically requested in the form of a motion shall be decided by the assigned judicial officer, with appropriate notice and court hearings as required by law. Examples of requests that are motions include requests to stay or stop proceedings, continue hearings, and adjust deadlines for motions or responses.

CRITICAL

When a case is called for trial, it proceeds or is dismissed unless the court orders a continuance.

(d) Continuances. A case shall proceed to trial or be dismissed when it is called for trial unless a continuance is ordered by the court.

CRITICAL

Parties may not amend a case schedule by stipulation unless the assigned judge approves or a stated exception applies.

Parties may not amend a Case Schedule by stipulation, except with approval of the assigned judge or as provided below:

CRITICAL

A motion to continue trial must be filed and served at least ten calendar days before trial and include the client’s written acknowledgment, a declaration or affidavit stating specific reasons, and—if agreed or uncontested—the written acknowledgment of all parties.

A motion to continue a trial must be timely filed and served not less than ten calendar days before the trial date. A motion for continuance must (A) contain written acknowledgment of the motion by the client, (B) be accompanied by an affidavit or declaration containing specific reasons necessitating a continuance, and (C) if agreed or uncontested, contain written acknowledgment of the motion by all parties to the case.

CRITICAL

A hearing requiring 28 days’ notice must be stricken or continued at least five business days before the hearing.

Hearings that must be scheduled on 28 days’ notice shall be stricken or continued at least five business days before the hearing.

CRITICAL

If a case is not ready on the trial setting date, the court will strike it from the administrative docket and will not continue it.

If a case is not ready on the trial setting date, the court will strike the matter from the administrative docket and will not continue it.

WARNING

When the cause for a continuance was or should have been known earlier, the court may impose terms to cover jury-summoning costs if a jury has already been summoned.

When a continuance is sought after a jury has been summoned, and where the cause for continuance was or should have been known earlier, terms may be imposed to defray the court’s costs incurred in summoning a jury for trial.

WARNING

The court may amend a case schedule on its own initiative or on a party’s motion, for good cause shown.

The court, either on its own initiative or on motion of a party, for good cause shown, may issue an Amended Case Schedule Notice or Case Schedule Order.

WARNING

The court may extend the time for presenting documents for signature for good cause.

For good cause, the court may extend the time for presentation.

WARNING

The Superior Court Administrator or a judicial officer may extend timelines stated in the rule for good cause.

Timelines stated herein can be extended by the Superior Court Administrator or by a judicial officer for good cause.

WARNING

The court may impose terms on a party or counsel who is unprepared for trial.

The court may impose terms upon a party or counsel who is not prepared for trial.

WARNING

The parties may stipulate to a continuance only if the arbitrator permits it.

The parties may stipulate to a continuance only with the permission of the arbitrator.

WARNING

The arbitrator may grant a continuance without obtaining a court order.

The arbitrator may grant a continuance without court order.

WARNING

A Motion for Continuance of Trial should be filed, served, and heard by a judge before the trial confirmation hearing.

(1) Form of the Motion. A Motion for Continuance of Trial should be filed, served, and heard by a judge before the trial confirmation hearing.