Dispute Resolution Services
JUDICIAL SETTLEMENT CONFERENCE PROGRAM
Checklist for Lawyers
When Judge Decides to Order Case to a Judicial Settlement Conference:
Parties agree on a settlement judge from the master list (if the parties cannot agree on
a judge, the court will choose a settlement judge). Parties are asked to choose a judge
located within 100 miles of the settlement conference site when possible.
Judicial Settlement Conference Program Judges List
Parties inform the referring circuit court judge of their selection.
Once the Settlement Judge is Identified:
Counsel must prepare a confidential pre-conference brief of no more than 5 pages
for the settlement judge that may include:
a brief statement of the facts;
a list of damages (plaintiff only);
a concise theory of liability (plaintiff only);
defenses to plaintiff’s liability theory (defendant only);
a statement describing the settlement history of the case, including all
demands, settlement offers, and counter-offers with their corresponding dates;
the trial date and expected length of trial, and
a list identifying the parties who will attend the conference.
Ask the settlement judge how to transmit the brief (i.e., mail, fax or email).
The Pre-Settlement Conference Call:
Contact the settlement judge to schedule a phone conference in advance of the
settlement conference.
Verify with settlement judge the date, time, and location of the settlement conference.
Ensure that parties with settlement authority will attend the settlement conference.
