Rule 24.08 Misdemeanors or Felonies - Continuance

If you're involved in a criminal case in Missouri, either side can ask the judge to delay the proceedings. This is called a continuance. The judge can only grant this delay if there's a good reason for it.

When the judge agrees to a continuance, the case gets pushed back either to a specific new date, or to a later time when a trial date will be decided. This gives the defendant, prosecutor, or the court more time to handle whatever issue caused the delay, like needing more time to prepare, waiting on evidence, or scheduling conflicts.

The judge has the final say on whether the reason given is good enough to justify the delay. This rule applies whether the case involves a misdemeanor or a felony charge.