What is a continuance?

A continuance is a delay of a court hearing, action, or court trial in California. It is a way of postponing the proceedings, usually to give the parties time to prepare and review evidence. In certain cases, the court may allow a continuance to enable a criminal defendant to have additional time to prepare a defense. Continuances may be granted by the court itself or by agreement of the parties. The court might consider granting a continuance if an attorney or a party needs additional time to gather evidence, witnesses, or other materials needed to properly litigate the case. For example, a party might need to preserve or obtain evidence, or to reach a settlement before trial. The court can also grant a continuance if a party needs more time to complete a legal action, file a motion, or finalize a plea bargain. In some cases, the court may also grant a continuance because of medical reasons or need for mental health treatment. A continuance helps ensure that all parties can adequately prepare for trial, and it can be beneficial to the defendant in that it gives them additional time to present a strong defense. However, continuances can also be used to delay the proceedings and obstruct justice. As such, the court will carefully consider all requests for continuances.

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