Anoka County Court Administration Administrative Continuance Policy

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 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 requests and to achieve some uniformity in how requests are responded to, 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.”

PETTY MISDEMEANOR COURT TRIALS

Continuance requests may be granted up to 1 day prior to the trial date provided both parties are in agreement. The duration of the continuance may not exceed 90 days. Any request with less than 1 days notice will be denied. Any request where there has been a prior continuance granted will be denied.

MISDEMEANOR PRE-TRIALS / JURY TRIAL SETTINGS

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

CONTINUANCE REQUESTS ON THE DAY OF THE HEARING / TRIAL

Administrative continuances will not granted on the day of trial. However, in emergency circumstances, Assignment Division staff will take messages to the courtroom for a judge to review.

Note: Parties are always encouraged to work through their attorneys. A party who is represented by counsel will be referred to their lawyer.

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