What is the primary goal of a pretrial conference?

The primary goal of a pretrial conference is to facilitate discussions between the parties involved and streamline the trial process. This meeting is crucial as it allows both sides to outline their cases, identify the key issues in dispute, and potentially resolve matters before trial. By encouraging communication, the pretrial conference aims to promote efficiency in the litigation process, reduce delays, and clarify the expectations for trial. This can lead to settlements or more focused trials, minimizing unnecessary costs and time for the court and the involved parties.

Finalizing witness lists may occur as part of the pretrial process, but it is not the main goal of the conference itself. Similarly, determining juror eligibility and setting trial dates are important procedural steps in trial preparation, but these tasks serve more specific functions that support the overarching objective of optimizing the trial process through effective pretrial communication.