LCrRLJ  4.5
           PRE TRIAL CONFERENCE/READINESS HEARING


     a)  In every criminal or traffic case in which the
defendant is entitled to a jury trial, the Clerk shall set a
date for a pre-trial conference.  The purpose of said
conference is for presentation and setting of motions,
completion of plea bargaining, and to set a trial date.
Discovery shall be in the hands of the party requesting same
at least two (2) working days PRIOR TO said conference.  The
Clerk will then proceed to notify the prospective jurors as
provided by law.  See Local Rule LJCrR 8.2 concerning notice
to opposing parties of the nature of the pre-trial motions
and the necessity of witnesses at the hearing.

     If the party or his attorney fails to appear at said
conference without adequate cause then known to the court,
bail will be ordered forfeited and the Court will order a
Bench Warrant issued for the arrest of the defendant.

     In the event it comes to the attention of the court
that there is a likelihood that the defendant will not be
available for jury trial, as evidenced, for example, by
defendant's failure to remain in contact with his lawyer,
the court will schedule an additional hearing to inquire as
to the availability of the defendant.  If the defendant does
not appear, the jury trial date will be stricken, bail
forfeited, and the court will order a bench warrant for the
arrest of the defendant.

     b)  Within ten (10) days, excluding weekends and
holidays, prior to an assigned jury trial date, there shall
be held a readiness hearing.  At such a hearing, it shall be
mandatory that the prosecuting authority, the defense
counsel, and the defendant be present.  At such a hearing,
the following matters will be concluded:

     1.   All plea bargaining
     2.   Exchange of witness lists
     3.   Providing of any discovery not previously
          exchanged at the pre-jury conference
     4.   Motions on the legal issues arising subsequent to
          the pre-jury conference or on issues arising
          due to new evidence

     At the conclusion of the readiness hearing, the court
will no longer accept any plea bargaining arrangements.
Thereafter, the case will be tried by jury, unless waived by
the defendant, or concluded by a guilty plea to the original
charge, or a dismissal of the charge(s).  A failure of the
defendant to be present at the readiness hearing will result
in the issuance of a bench warrant for failure to appear and
the vacating of the jury trial date.  The requirements of
this rule can be waived only by the judge assigned to the
case or the Presiding Judge of the Grant County District Court.