Rule 1 - Assignment of Civil Cases and Trial Settings For Civil Cases(a) All civil cases that are filed in this court shall be randomly assigned to one of the judges by the clerk of the court by lot, with the clerk placing the names of the judges in a box, and drawing one of the names from the box. The last letter in the assigned cause number shall begin with the first letter of the last name of the judge to whom the case is assigned. The clerk shall notify the party filing a complaint, and when an answer is filed, the party answering the complaint, of the case assignment. (b) Excepted from this procedure are motions for post-conviction collateral relief. Those motions shall be assigned to the judge who originally presided over the criminal proceeding that is the subject of the motion. (c) In the event that cases are consolidated that had originally been assigned to separate judges, the consolidated case will be assigned a judge by the clerk of the court in the same manner as if the case were an original filing. If a case is assigned to a judge that has a conflict of interest that necessitates the recusal of the judge, the case shall be assigned to the other judge. (d) Any party that wishes to have a case set for trial shall contact the court administrator for the judge to whom the case is assigned, at least thirty (30) days prior to the commencement of the term of court in which that judge is to preside, to obtain a trial setting. If a case is triable at a term of court that is being held by a judge to whom the case is not assigned, the case may be tried by that judge, irrespective of case assignment, so long as both judges, and all parties are in agreement. (e) Any party that desires a vacation trial setting shall contact the administrator of the judge to whom the case is assigned, concerning possible vacation trial settings. Trials will be held in vacation when the time and schedule of the judge, and the parties, can accommodate a vacation setting.