Montana Civil Pretrial Guide

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The pretrial is a conference ordered by the court and held in the courtroom to facilitate a face to face discussion of the issues of the case. Some cases are not appropriate to go on to trial because there is no material issue of dispute or disagreement between the parties.

A pretrial conference is an opportunity for both attorneys and the judge to be proactive in regards to the upcoming trial. The details of the trial will be worked out, including the process of selecting a jury, how long the trial is excepted to last, and any abnormal procedures or requests.

Judges also use pre-trial conferences to encourage settling cases. At the conference, the judge and the lawyers can review the evidence and clarify the issues in dispute.The lawyers usually appear at this hearing before a judge without their clients and try to agree on undisputed facts or points of law.

A Pre-Trial Conference (PTC) provides an informal setting for all parties and the Judge to: identify the facts that are agreed upon or are in dispute; clarify the issues between the parties; and. attempt to reach a resolution by way of a voluntary agreement.

First appearance. Determination of probable cause. Arraignment. Bond hearing. Pretrial conferences. Motion hearings. Discovery and investigation. Depositions.

Call Your Attorney. Write a Journal of Key Events About Your Case. Review the Police Report for Accuracy. Research How a Criminal Conviction Will Impact You or Your Career. Bring Your Calendar.

A pretrial hearing, sometimes called a pretrial conference, is a meeting of the defense, the prosecution, and the judge before a trial commences. If one party does not appear, the judge can impose sanctions. During this hearing, a range of documents may be presented, evidence can be presented and excluded, and more.