If the case cannot be settled at pretrial, then the case will set for trial. A party shall not be granted a continuance of pretrial, trial or a hearing without a written motion from the party or his counsel stating the reason for the continuance. The request for a continuance in a civil case should be received by the court no later than one week from the date following when the case was set by the court for hearing, pretrial or trial. Request for continuance received within seven days, prior to the date set for pre-trial or trial will not be favorably considered by the court unless the request or continuances is based upon the priority of a criminal case as hereinafter set forth. When a continuance is requested for the reason that counsel is scheduled to appear in another case assigned for trial on the same date in another trial court of this state, the case which was first set for trial shall have priority and shall be tried on the date assigned.
Criminal oases assigned for trial have priority over civil cases assigned for trial.
The granting of any other request for, a continuance of a scheduled trial is a matter within the discretion of the trial court. Following trial, the court will prepare the Journal Entry of Judgment and send copies to the attorneys or to the parties if there are no attorneys. The avoidance of trial by settlement is encouraged and shall be allowed without the immediate filing of an entry, but such entry shall be filed within 30 days or the case will be dismissed for want of prosecution. In civil cases for money only based upon an account or an instrument for the payment of money only, other than for rent due upon real property, and call day has passed, the case is eligible for default judgment. Prevailing counsel shall submit an oral or written application for default judgment and the Court will prepare the Journal Entry.