Anoka County Administrative Continuance Policy for Gross Misdemeanor/Felony Cases

An inevitable part of moving criminal cases to their conclusion is dealing with continuance requests. This office has developed significant tools, including the Notice Of Next Court Appearance, to minimize the number of requests for continuance that are received. In spite of these efforts, there are instances when one side or the other feels the need to ask for a continuance. To minimize the impact on the bench from such continuance request and to achieve some uniformity in how requests are responded too, the following outlines how we handle “administrative continuances.” An administrative continuance is defined to be “a continuance received without consultation with a judge.”

Request for continuance may come by phone or in writing.

Request must include the following information:

1. Reason for the continuance
2. Length of the continuance
3. Prior number of continuances granted
4. Offense charged
5. Posture of opposing counsel-opposes or agrees

Requests also may be handled differently depending on the “severity of the charged offense.”

RULE 5/RULE 8

Continuance requests may be granted up to 1 day prior to the hearing provided both parties are in agreement. The duration of the continuance must not exceed 21 days. No continuance will be granted on the day of the hearing.

OMNIBUS HEARING:

Continuance requests may be granted up to 1 day prior to the omnibus hearing provided both parties are in an agreement. The duration of the continuance must not exceed 21 days. No continuance will be granted on the day of the hearing. No requests will be granted where a prior administrative continuance has been granted.

CONTESTED OMNIBUS HEARINGS:

Request for a continued Contested Omnibus Hearing will not be considered unless the request is in writing stating the reason a continuance is needed and the opposing party consents to the continuance.

Written requests should be submitted to the Assignment Operational Support Supervisor, Assignment Supervisor, and/or the court.

JURY TRIALS:

Request for a continuance of a Jury Trial will not be considered unless the request is in writing stating the reason a continuance is needed and the opposing party consents to the continuance.

Written requests should be submitted to the Assignment Operational Support Supervisor, Assignment Supervisor, and/or the court.

CONTINUANCE REQUESTS SAME DAY AS HEARING:

Administrative Continuances will not be granted on the hearing date. However, the Assignment staff will take messages to the courtroom for the Judge to review.

Court Administration
325 East Main Street
Anoka, MN 55303-2489
Phone: 763-422-7350
Fax: 763-422-6919
TTY: 763-422-6922
Hours: M - F, 8:00am - 4:30pm