Rule 6.012 - SETTLEMENT CONFERENCES1) Upon the joint request of the parties, and at the discretion of the judge, the court may set a judicial settlement conference. The court will follow the procedure in UTCR 6.200 if there is a request for settlement conference that the other party objects to being set.2) The parties will submit settlement letters to the court no later than 48 hours, excluding weekends, prior to the settlement conference outlining the information the party believes will assist the judge in settlement negotiations. Each settlement conference shall be scheduled to allow adequate time for meaningful settlement discussions.3) The court will only allow one settlement conference unless good cause is shown why another settlement conference should be allowed.4) Each party or representative of a corporation or insurance company who has full authority to settle and compromise the litigation must personally appear at the settlement conference, unless video or telephonic appearances are permitted for good cause.5) Settlement conferences will be handled by visiting or senior judges unless there are written waivers of conflict for the presiding judge to participate in the settlement conference and remain the trial and sentence judge. If the court is unable to obtain the services of a visiting or senior judge, the court at its discretion may deny the request for a settlement conference.6) All settlements will be placed on the record upon settlement. All criminal cases, where there is a settlement on charges, shall have a plea to the charges in the negotiated settlement placed on the record the day of the settlement supported by a plea petition.7) The pretrial settlement conference shall not delay the trial scheduling.Amended effective 2/1/2024.