10JDCR 6.7

(a) Mandatory. In all domestic relations matters, the parties shall appear before the court for a case management conference. Should either party fail to appear, the court may proceed to final disposition of all pending matters without setting another hearing and may impose an appropriate sanction upon the party or the party’s attorney.

(b) Scheduling. Upon the filing of an answer in a domestic relations matter, the case management conference will be set by the scheduling clerk after consultation with the parties regarding available dates within 90 days, but no later than 120 days after the answer was filed.

(c) Purpose. The purpose of the case management conference shall be:

(1) To familiarize the court with the factual and legal issues of the case;

(2) To identify the discovery the parties intend to conduct;

(3) To expedite the disposition of the action;

(4) To establish early and continuing control so that the case will not be protracted due to a lack of management;

(5) Where agreed upon by the parties, to set the case for trial;

(6) To discuss the length of the trial; and

(7) To facilitate settlement of the case.

(d) Pretrial settlement conference not required. The case management conference replaces the pretrial settlement conference requirement for other civil matters. See 10JDCR 4.8.