Excessive Delay in the Courts: Toward a Continuance Policy Relating to Counsel and Parties

The maxim "Justice delayed is justice denied" is an expression which is becoming all too meaningful in our courts today. Many of the large metropolitan courts in this country are being strangled by the ever-increasing backlog of cases. ...In most court systems, continuance policies are either non-existent or couched in vague terms such as "good cause shown.' It is the aim of this study to formulate guidelines for a sound continuance policy which will serve to speed the administration of justice without interfering with the high standard of judicial fairness necessary to proper adjudication.