LCrRLJ 4.5
                           READINESS TRIAL HEARINGS


     A Readiness Hearing shall be held before the Municipal Court Judge in
every case in which a timely demand for jury is made.  Notice shall be given in
open Court by the Judge to all parties indicating the date and time for this
hearing.  At the hearing the city prosecutor, defendant and the defendant's
counsel (if any) must be present.  By the Readiness Hearing date all discovery
must be completed and all motions must have been timely filed.  Furthermore,
parties shall advise the Court if the case can be settled by other than a jury
trial.  The Readiness Hearing date shall be set no later than ten (10) judicial
days before the date of trial.  The Court will strike the scheduled Jury Trial
and may issue a Bench Warrant for any defendant that does not appear at the
Readiness Hearing.

     After the readiness hearing the following restrictions to the proceedings
shall apply:

     All Plea Negotiations shall be concluded at or before the readiness
hearing.  The court will grant no amendments to the charges or plea bargains
after the readiness hearing. Therefore, after readiness the case will be tried
by a jury, unless waived by the defendant, or concluded by a guilty plea to the
original charge, or dismissal of the charge(s).

     Continuances on the scheduled trial date will only be granted for good cause.


[Adopted effective June 20, 2003. Amended effective September 1, 2008]