State v. Villiarimo.

Opinion of the Court by

ACOBA, J.

We hold that the Family Court of the Second Circuit (the court)1 abused its discretion in denying the request for a continuance made by Petitioner/Defendant-Appellee Joseph D. Villiarimo (Villiarimo). The court failed to give reasons for its decision to deny the continuance, making the denial effectively unreviewable on appeal. Moreover, in probation modification or probation revocation hearings, courts should apply a “good cause” standard for determining whether a continuance should be granted, in recognition of the nature of probation hearings. Lastly, for…