CONTINUANCE

Category: Criminal Procedure

Sec.  4.  Factors  for  granting  continuance.  –  The  following  factors, among  others,  shall  be  considered  by  a  court  in  determining whether to grant a continuance under section 3(f) of this Rule.
 
    (a)  Whether  or  not  the  failure  to  grant  a  continuance  in  the proceeding  would  likely  make  a  continuation  of  such  proceeding impossible or result in a miscarriage of justice; and
 
    (b)  Whether  or  not  the  case  taken  as  a  whole  is  so  novel, unusual and complex, due to the number of accused or the nature of  the  prosecution,  or  that  it  is  unreasonable  to  expect  adequate
preparation within the periods of time established therein.
 
    In addition, no continuance under section 3(f) of this Rule shall be granted because of congestion of the court’s calendar or lack of  diligent preparation or failure to obtain available witnesses on the part of the prosecutor.

WHAT IS A CONTINUANCE?

     A continuance is a postponement of trial
 

WHAT ARE THE FACTORS FOR GRANTING A CONTINUANCE/POSTPONEMENTS?

1.    Whether  or  not  the  failure  to  grant  a  continuance  in  the proceeding  would  likely  make  a  continuation  of  such  proceeding impossible or result in a miscarriage of justice; and

2.    Whether or not the case taken as a whole is so novel, unusual and complex,  due  to  the  number  of  accused  or  the  nature  of  the prosecution,  or  that  it  is  unreasonable  to  expect  adequate
preparation within the periods of time established therein.

     No  continuance  under  section  3(f)  of  this  Rule  shall  be  granted because  of  congestion  of  the  court’s  calendar  or  lack  of  diligent preparation or failure to obtain available witnesses on the part of
the prosecutor.
 

IS THE GRANT OF A MOTION FOR CONTINUANCE OR POSTPONEMENT A MATTER OF RIGHT?

     It is a matter of discretion on the part of the court