Continuances in court?

Unlikely, especially if a motion for that action isn't on the judges docket.

It means that hearing, trial, or whatever, is temporarily recessed and will be continued to another 'date certain.'

It does vary from one state to another and even different courts/judges within the state. For the most parts, first request is usually fairly straightfoward and you might not even need to appear...

Federal circuit courts are normally the trial courts and courts of original jurisdiction in the federal system.

Under most circumstances the US District Courts are the federal trial courts of general jurisdiction; however, they also hear appeals of federal agency decisions made by Administrative Law Judges...