I am writing to request a continuance of my case. I am scheduled for surgery on January , 2010.Explain the reasons why you have to miss your court date, and provide any documentation for proof, like a note from your doctor or work supervisor. You're best bet is to call the clerks office explain you're sick and ask to be put on the next available court date. Then go to hospital and get a letter. How to ask that your hearing be rescheduled to a later date. Good for use in all civil cases. In this article, we will discuss how to write a formal letter to a judge, along with the proper format and a sample letter. Complete and return your questionnaire and request a one-time postponement, filing in the reason it is needed. It will be up to the judge to decide whether to move your court date up.