Rule 8.6 Pretrial conferences discretionary

Here's a plain English summary of this rule.

A judge in a juvenile case can decide to hold a pretrial conference before the actual trial starts. This is a meeting where everyone involved in the case comes together to talk things over. The judge doesn't have to hold this meeting, but has the choice to do so if it seems helpful.

The point of the meeting is to make sure the trial goes smoothly and fairly, and doesn't drag on longer than it needs to. During this conference, the judge and the parties might discuss what evidence will be used, sort out any disagreements ahead of time, or handle other details that could slow down the trial later.

For anyone involved in a juvenile court case, this means you might be asked to show up for this kind of meeting before your trial date. It's a chance to work out problems early so the actual trial can move forward without unnecessary delays.