North Carolina Rules Of Civil Procedure (NCGS Section 1A-1) Practice Test

A pretrial conference is about shaping the case before it goes to trial. Its main purpose is to streamline what will be litigated and to set a practical plan for moving forward. At this conference, the judge and the parties work to narrow the issues that will go to trial, establish deadlines for discovery (like when documents are due, when depositions will occur, and any required disclosures), and discuss whether the parties see a path to settlement. Having these details lined up helps avoid surprises and keeps the case on a realistic timeline. Final judgment is not entered at a pretrial conference; that happens after trial or on motions for judgment. A case isn’t automatically dismissed at this stage; dismissal would be due to procedural issues or other separate rules. Jury selection occurs at trial, not at the pretrial conference, though the conference may determine whether the trial will be to a jury or a bench trial.