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Pretrial Conference Definition

In a misdemeanor case, this occurs after a defendant appears at arraignment. In a felony case, a pretrial conference is generally scheduled after the case is bound over to circuit court. A pretrial conference is an informal meeting between the defense attorney and the prosecutor. There can be multiple pretrials throughout a criminal case. The purpose of a pretrial conference is to address pertinent issues of the case, discuss potential resolutions, resolve discovery disputes, and possibly set the case for trial. If a pretrial resolution, called a plea bargain or sentence bargain, is reached, the defendant might choose to resolve their case at the pretrial conference with a guilty or no contest plea pursuant to that agreement. If the prosecutor is dismissing the charges, that would also happen at the pretrial.

For additional information about pretrial conferences in criminal cases, follow this link.

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