Thurston County District Court

		
		
                                                       LCRLJ 40
                      CIVIL TRIAL SETTINGS, SETTLEMENT CONFERENCES, PRETRIAL ORDERS, CONFIRMATION HEARINGS


    (a)  Civil Trial Settings - Jury and Non-Jury

    (1)  After the defendant's answer has been filed, any party may request the court set the matter for a trial.

    (2)  The party requesting a trial setting, jury or non-jury, shall file a Note for Civil Trial Setting
and indicate by written affidavit the following:

    Certify that the defendant's answer has been filed,

    Certify that the request for a trial setting has been served on all parties and attorneys,

    State the nature of the action,

    State the estimated length of the trial,

    State the number of witnesses to be called for trial and provide the name, and contact information for
    each witness,

    State the name and contact information for all parties and attorneys,

    Propose a selection of dates for trial agreeable to all parties.

    (3)  Demand for a jury trial must be made no later than five (5) days after the Note for Civil Trial Setting
is served. The party filing the demand shall at the time of filing pay the required jury fee and indicate by
affidavit that the jury demand was served on all parties.

    (4)  In the case of jury demand, the plaintiff shall, within fourteen (14) days of receipt of the jury
demand, initiate a telephone conference call with the District Court civil clerk and the defendant to set the
settlement conference date, the confirmation hearing date, and the jury trial date.

    (5)  In the case of a request for a non-jury trial, the plaintiff shall, within fourteen (14) days of receipt
of the request for a non-jury trial, initiate a telephone conference call with the District Court civil clerk
and the defendant to set the non-jury trial date.

    (6)  Thereafter, the Court will send notice to the parties of the settlement conference date, the confirmation
hearing date, and the date of the jury or non-jury trial.

    (7)  Whenever any case set for trial is settled (other than at settlement conference), or will not be tried
for any reason, notice of that fact shall be given immediately to the Court.  If notification is not given
48 hours prior to the time of the trial, the Court in its discretion, may order any party to pay terms.

     (b)  Settlement Conferences

    Whenever a demand for jury trial has been filed, the case will be set for a settlement conference approximately
ninety (90) days prior to the trial date.  All parties, their attorneys, and a person with authority to consent
to settlement for each party shall be present at this hearing.  All discovery pursuant to CRLJ 26 shall be
completed prior to the settlement conference.

    (c)  Pretrial Orders

    If settlement is not reached at the settlement conference, the settlement conference Judge will enter a
pretrial order. The pretrial order will state the nature of the claims and defenses, list the names of
witnesses & exhibits anticipated to be presented by each party at trial, indicate the additional discovery
authorized by the Court with a timeline for completion, and will set a briefing schedule for motions.

    (d)  Confirmation Hearing

    A confirmation hearing shall be set approximately one week prior to all civil jury trials.  At confirmation
hearing, all parties are expected to verify readiness to proceed to jury trial or propose an alternate
disposition. All trial briefs, proposed jury instructions, motions in limine, and any remaining pre-trial
motions shall be filed and served no later than seven (7) days prior to the confirmation hearing. Motions will
be heard at the confirmation hearing.


[Adopted 09/01/1998; Amended 09/01/2002, 07/01/2015.]