Best to file this in writing with the clerk of the court AND send a copy to the other side. Nothing stops you from filing a motion for continuance.You file it with the clerk of courts. Ask for both the pretrial conference and the trial to be moved in a single motion, or must each be requested separately? To get a continuance for a trial, you must usually do both of these: File a motion for a continuance with the court. If you feel you are unable to make it to your pre-trial hearing, you may request for a continuance. Try to talk with a lawyer before filing a motion for a trial continuance. The policy is not meant to dictate or inhibit the role of the judge in the litigation process. This right to appear in a civil case without an attorney is different from a criminal case.