After trial begins, the court may, in furtherance of justice, adjourn it for such time, and on such conditions as to costs or otherwise, as it deems just.
Rule 1.921.Adjournments
Division IX: Trial and Judgment · Last amended February 15, 2002 · Last verified July 15, 2026
In one sentenceRule 1.921 lets the court adjourn a trial already underway for whatever time and conditions it deems just, in furtherance of justice.
Full Text of Rule 1.921
Plain-English Summary
Once a trial begins, life does not stop happening — witnesses fall ill, evidence needs tracking down, schedules collide. Rule 1.921 gives the court authority to adjourn a trial that has already started, for as long as the circumstances require, once it decides an adjournment serves justice.
The rule also lets the court attach conditions to the adjournment, whether about costs or otherwise. That flexibility means an adjournment does not have to be a free pass for the party that caused the delay — the court can set terms that keep the process fair to both sides while the trial is paused.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can a court adjourn a trial once it has already started?
Yes. Rule 1.921 lets the court adjourn a trial in furtherance of justice for such time as it deems just, once the trial is underway.
Can the court impose conditions when it adjourns a trial?
Yes. Rule 1.921 allows the court to set conditions as to costs or otherwise when granting the adjournment.
Is there a limit on how long a trial can be adjourned under this rule?
The rule does not set a fixed limit; it leaves the length of the adjournment to what the court deems just under the circumstances.
How is this different from a continuance requested before trial begins?
Rule 1.921 addresses an adjournment after trial has begun, while pretrial continuances are governed separately under the rules covering motions for continuance.
Does a party need to show good cause for the court to grant an adjournment?
The rule frames the standard as the court acting "in furtherance of justice," which puts the decision in the court's discretion rather than requiring a specific showing spelled out in the rule itself.
Source & verification. Rule text and the Comment are
reproduced verbatim from the Iowa Rules of Civil Procedure, adopted by the
Iowa Supreme Court. Last verified July 15, 2026.
· Official source
Also known as: iowa trial adjournment ruleadjourning trial in progress iowaiowa mid-trial delay rulecourt adjournment conditions iowa