8.
              TRIAL BY JURY, PRETRIAL HEARING, READINESS HEARING


     In every criminal case in which the defendant pleads not guilty, the clerk
shall set a date for a pretrial hearing.  The purpose of said hearing is for
presentation of motions, completion of plea bargaining, or to set a trial  date
and readiness hearing.  Unless the pretrial hearing is continued to  another
date or the case is resolved at the hearing, the clerk will set a jury  trial
and readiness hearing.  If the right to jury trial is waived, the clerk  shall
set a bench trial date.

     If the defendant fails to appear at the pretrial hearing without good cause,
forfeiture of bail will be ordered and the court will order a bench warrant for
the arrest of the defendant.

     Within fifteen (15) days prior to an assigned jury trial date, a readiness
hearing shall be held.  At such hearing, it shall be mandatory that the
prosecuting authority, the defense counsel, and the defendant be present.   At
such hearing, the following matters will be concluded:

        . All plea bargaining,

        . Exchange of witness lists,

        . Providing of any discovery not previously exchanged at the pretrial
          hearing, and,

        . Motions on legal issues arising subsequent to the pretrial hearing or on
          issues arising due to new evidence.

     At the readiness hearing, the parties will notify the court that they are
ready or not for trial.  If both parties state that they are ready for trial,
the case will subsequently be tried by jury, unless waived by the defendant,
or concluded by a guilty plea or a dismissal of the charge(s).

     If, after the readiness hearing the defendant decides to plead guilty, the
plaintiff moves to dismiss, or if either party seeks a continuance of the trial
date, the parties shall notify the other party and the clerk of the court or
designee immediately.  The clerk shall then set the matter for a plea hearing
or a motion hearing on the next available court calendar.

     Failure of the defendant to be present at the readiness hearing will result
in the issuance of a bench warrant for failure to appear, forfeiture of bail,
and the striking of the jury trial date.