Civil pretrial conferences prepare the court and the attorneys for trial.
Pretrial hearings are scheduled days and weeks before the commencement of the trial. The lawyers and trial judge use these proceedings to review all outstanding trial and evidentiary issues.
Typically evidence and witness lists are exchanged. Proposed jury instructions are submitted. Motions in limine are argued and ruled on by the judge, and any outstanding procedural issues get resolved in preparation for the upcoming trial.
Pretrial Conferences can also spur settlement discussions among the lawyers. In civil cases, the lawyers know that the pretrial conference means a quickly approaching trial date. Consequently, the lawyers are motivated to settle their case rather than risk a long and expensive trial.
