What is the purpose of a pretrial conference?

• A. To set the case for immediate trial with no further scheduling.
• B. To resolve all issues and enter final judgment at once.
• C. To velocity the docket by dismissing claims.
• D. To narrow issues, set witness and exhibit lists, and resolve remaining disputes before trial.

Answer: (D)

The purpose of a pretrial conference is to prepare for the trial by focusing the case, organizing what will be presented, and sorting out any remaining disputes before the courtroom doors open. In North Carolina practice, this means narrowing the issues that will go to trial, requiring the parties to exchange and settle on witness lists and exhibit lists, and resolving discovery or procedural matters that could delay trial. By addressing how evidence will be handled, which witnesses will testify and in what order, and what documents will be admitted, the court can set a clear trial plan and deadlines, making the actual trial run more smoothly. It’s also common to discuss possible settlement if a resolution can be reached without trial, but the main aim is to streamline and prepare rather than finalize every issue or judgment at this stage. The other options misstate the role: a pretrial conference isn’t about immediate trial with no schedule, it isn’t about resolving every issue and entering final judgment then and there, and it isn’t about dismissing claims to speed the docket.