Judges should do more to enforce a court rule that lets them disregard a designation of trial counsel if that lawyer’s unavailability will cause unacceptable delays, a state appeals court says.

In Hernandez v. North Jersey Neurosurgical Associates, A-890-12, the Appellate Division held that once designation under Rule 4:25-4 has been waived by the parties or disregarded by the court, formally and with notice, it can no longer be used to adjourn a trial date.