What is a pretrial conference?

A pretrial conference is a meeting between the parties involved in a legal case, typically held before the trial begins. Its purpose is to discuss and resolve any issues related to the case to make the trial process more efficient. Pretrial conferences may be conducted by a judge, a magistrate, or a court administrator. The conference may address matters such as the exchange of evidence and information between the parties, settlement negotiations, the scope of the trial, and the issues that will be tried. The outcome of the pretrial conference is typically a formal agreement or a court order that determines the structure of the trial and any pretrial procedures that must be followed. The process is helpful in reducing court expenses by settling cases that can be settled without taking them to a trial.