Also known as: good cause requirements · good-cause requirement · good cause · good cause exception
Written by attorneys · grounded in primary & secondary sources — see below
A procedural standard authorizing a court to excuse a party's failure to meet a deadline or other requirement when the party demonstrates sufficient justification.
Gina Griffin served interrogatories on Glacier Energy. Glacier responded with answers but omitted any objection to one question about internal emails. Three weeks later Glacier attempted to assert a relevance objection. The court refused to consider the objection because Glacier had not shown good cause to excuse its earlier omission.
Gregory Gates entered a not-guilty plea in a federal prosecution. Ten days later he learned of a psychiatric evaluation supporting an insanity defense. He filed written notice of the defense two weeks after the evaluation results arrived. The court permitted the late filing after finding good cause based on the timing of the new medical information.
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Gwen Gallagher discovered a key voicemail the morning of trial. She immediately notified opposing counsel of her intent to offer the statement under the residual exception and explained the late discovery. The court allowed the evidence after determining that the same-day disclosure supplied good cause to excuse the absence of earlier written notice.
Grace Gupta was indicted for fraud. Her counsel received hospital records confirming a mental-health condition only after the pretrial-motion deadline. Gupta promptly moved for leave to file an insanity notice. The court granted the motion upon a showing of good cause and allowed additional preparation time.
Giselle Guerrero, a solo practitioner, was appointed to represent an indigent defendant in a complex felony case. She sought to decline the appointment because the matter would require extensive travel. The court denied the request after finding no good cause to avoid the representation under the professional-conduct rules.
Gulfstream Aviation's outside counsel agreed to represent Greta Goldstein in her divorce. Midway through discovery the client could no longer pay. Counsel moved to withdraw. The court denied the motion because withdrawal would leave Goldstein without representation in an ongoing complex proceeding and no good cause existed to permit it.
A party must demonstrate circumstances that justify excusing a missed deadline or requirement, such as newly discovered information or excusable neglect that prevented earlier compliance. Courts evaluate diligence and prejudice to the opposing party.
No. The proponent must still provide notice in some form during trial, and the court must affirmatively find good cause to excuse the lack of earlier written notice before admitting the statement.
A defendant may file late only if the court finds good cause, such as newly obtained psychiatric records that could not have been discovered earlier with reasonable diligence. Tactical delay after an unfavorable plea offer does not constitute good cause.
No. Withdrawal requires good cause and court permission. A lawyer may not withdraw when doing so would materially prejudice the client in an ongoing complex matter even if the client becomes unable to pay.