Motion To Continue

While there is no hard and fast rule on how long is too long, one rule of thumb is eight months. Courts will generally presume that the delay has been sufficient to satisfy a defendant's prima facie case of the denial of the right to a speedy trial when eight months have passed.

There is no hard and fast rule set out in the US Constitution that defines how long is too long for a delay. However, one rule of thumb is eight months. Courts will usually presume they delay of this length has been sufficient to satisfy a defendant's claim that their right to a speedy trial is being denied.

A Motion to Continue is a request by one or both parties in a legal dispute to the Court to extend or reschedule a hearing or trial date to a specified new date. WHY MUST I NEED ONE? If you have good cause to delay a hearing or trial, you must file a Motion to Continue with the Court.

Everyone has the right to a speedy trial, but in California, with a misdemeanor charge that is defined as within 45 calendar days from the day they were arraigned if they're not in custody, or 30 days if they are in custody. However, most people waive their right to a speedy trial, in order to mount a good defense.

If you want to change your court date, you must ask for a postponement (also called a "continuance"). In your Form SC-150 or letter, give the judge a good reason why you are filing your request late.

Having the trial continued often means that the entire body of the court is given a specific date in which all parties have to return in order to pick up the case. The time frame in which the postponement is granted is dependent upon the reason for which a continued trial is called for.

The rule of reason applies to postponing a court date. If the justification is reasonable, related to trial preparation, your health or that of a family member, or a matter of some importance scheduled before the court date was set, the judge will likely have no problem with a request for postponement.

There is no limit on the number a times a case can be continued. There is an urban legend that each side gets three continuances, but that is just not the case. The real question is whether the prosecution has met their obligations under Rule 600, which is Pennsylvania's speedy trial rule.