It shall be the duty of the judge of any trial court or administrative agency of this state to continue, on or without motion, any case in the court, any hearings on motions, and the response to any motion or suit, when any party thereto or his or her attorney shall, when the case or the time for the hearing, the response to the motion, or answer to the suit is reached, be absent from the court by reason of his or her membership in the General Assembly or if lead counsel in such case shall be absent, by reason of his or her service on the staff of the Lieutenant Governor, Speaker of the House of Representatives, President Pro Tempore, Speaker Pro Tempore, or the chairperson of the Judiciary Committee or Special Judiciary Committee of the Senate or House of Representatives. Any such continuance shall last during the entire length of any regular or extraordinary session thereof and during the first three weeks of any recessed or adjourned regular or extraordinary session thereof, including the first three weeks immediately following any session adjourned sine die, unless the party, in the absence of his or her attorney, or the attorney, in the absence of the party, shall, on the call of the case or motion, announce ready to proceed with the trial or the motion; provided, however, that where there are several attorneys engaged by a party, a continuance shall be granted upon a showing by the party or his or her other counsel that the absent counsel is necessary or desirable for the proper handling of the case. Notwithstanding any other provision of law, the period of time provided for the doing of any act in a case in which a continuance is granted shall be automatically extended by the length of the continuance upon certification by the absent counsel that (1) he or she is lead counsel in the case and (2) it is necessary for him or her to attend to the matters for which an extension is granted for the proper handling of the case.