Rule 16.01 - Pretrial Conferences; ObjectivesIn any action, the court may in its discretion direct the attorneys for the parties and any self-represented litigants to appear before it for a conference or conferences before trial for such purposes as:
(a) expediting the disposition of the action; (b) establishing early and continuing control so that the case will not be protracted because of lack of management; (c) discouraging wasteful pretrial activities; (d) improving the quality of the trial through more thorough preparation; and(e) facilitating the settlement of the case. Amended effective 7/1/2015.