Rule 209. Continuances and Stays

(a) Continuances may be granted for cause or by agreement.

(b) Continuances shall be to a specific time and date. The magisterial district judge shall note continuances on the docket and shall promptly give or mail to the parties written notice of continuances.

(c) Except for good cause shown or agreement of the parties:

(1) not more than one continuance shall be granted to each party; and

(2) the aggregate of all continuances shall not extend the date of the hearing:

(i) beyond 90 days from the date of filing the plaintiff’s complaint in proceedings commenced pursuant to Pa.R.Civ.P.M.D.J. 303; or

(ii) beyond 30 days from the date of filing the landlord’s complaint in proceedings commenced pursuant to Pa.R.Civ.P.M.D.J. 502.

(d) In all proceedings governed by these rules, the following shall constitute cause for granting a continuance:

(1) the scheduling of a party’s attorney of record to appear at any proceeding under the Pennsylvania Rules of Disciplinary Enforcement, whether:

(i) as counsel for a respondent-attorney before a hearing committee, special master, the Disciplinary Board, or the Supreme Court;

(ii) as a special master or member of a hearing committee; or

(iii) as a member of the Disciplinary Board.

(2) the scheduling of a party’s attorney of record to appear at any proceeding involving the discipline of a justice, judge, or magisterial district judge under Section 18 of Article V of the Constitution of Pennsylvania, whether

(i) as counsel for a justice, judge, or magisterial district judge before the special tribunal provided for in 42 Pa.C.S. § 727, the Court of Judicial Discipline, the Judicial Conduct Board, or any hearing committee or other arm of the Judicial Conduct Board; or

(ii) as a member of the Court of Judicial Discipline, the Judicial Conduct Board, or any hearing committee or other arm of the Judicial Conduct Board.

(e) Continuances and stays shall be granted in compliance with federal or state law, such as the Servicemembers Civil Relief Act, 50 U.S.C. § § 3901 et seq .

Comment. This rule was amended in 2005 to consolidate the provisions of former Pa.R.Civ.P.M.D.J. 320, relating to continuances in civil actions, and Pa.R.Civ.P.M.D.J. 511, relating to continuances in possessory actions, into one general rule governing continuances. The limitations set forth in subdivision (c) are intended to ensure that these cases proceed expeditiously. The grounds set forth in subdivision (d) and (e) are not intended to be the only grounds on which a continuance will be granted. Participation in a landlord-tenant mediation program authorized by local rule will not entitle a party to a continuance beyond 30 days from the date the plaintiff filed the complaint unless there has been good cause shown or agreement by the parties. See Pa.R.Civ.P.M.D.J. 504.1 pertaining to landlord-tenant mediation programs authorized by local rule.