Rule 8 Mandatory discovery and settlement conference

Once a short trial judge is assigned to a case, everyone involved has 30 days to meet with that judge for a required conference. During this meeting, the parties share documents, name the witnesses they plan to use, and work out a plan for any further discovery that might be needed. This takes the place of the standard discovery process that would normally apply under NRCP 16.1.

The meeting also gives everyone a chance to talk about settling the case or trying other ways to resolve it, like mediation, instead of going through a full trial. This can save time and money if the parties are open to working things out.

It's important to know that the short trial judge has final say over how much discovery happens in the case. If the parties disagree about what documents should be shared or what discovery is fair, the judge decides. This means the judge plays an active role in keeping the case moving efficiently, rather than letting disputes drag on.