Rule 136.Pretrial Conference

Last verified July 8, 2026

In one sentenceRule 136 requires a pretrial conference at which all parties must be prepared to address the pretrial statement, narrowing and simplifying the issues, eliminating unsupported claims, evidentiary stipulations and advance rulings, time limits, trial length, motions in limine, settlement, and any other matter serving a just, speedy, inexpensive resolution, with mandatory in-person attendance by unrepresented parties and lead and local counsel.

Full Text of Rule 136

Text sizeJump to: (a) (b)

(a) Pretrial Conference. A pretrial conference shall be held on a date established by the court. At the pretrial conference, all parties must be prepared and authorized to discuss the following matters:

(1) all matters contained in the joint final pretrial statement;

(2) the formulation and simplification of the trial issues;

(3) the elimination of unsupported claims or defenses;

(4) the admission of facts and documents to avoid unnecessary proof;

(5) stipulations to the authenticity of documents;

(6) requests for advance rulings from the court on

(A) the admissibility of evidence; and

(B) the disposition of pending motions;

(7) the establishment of time limits for presenting evidence and argument;

(8) the estimated length of trial;

(9) motions in limine;

(10) settlement and the use of special procedures to assist in resolving the dispute; and

(11) such other matters as may facilitate the just, speedy, and inexpensive disposition of the case.

(b) Mandatory Attendance. All unrepresented parties and all lead trial counsel and local counsel for each represented party must attend the pretrial conference in person unless the court authorizes attendance by other means. Last reviewed and edited June 24, 2014 Effective September 1, 2014

End

Plain-English Summary

The court holds a pretrial conference on a date it sets, and every party must come prepared and authorized to discuss the joint final pretrial statement's contents, formulating and simplifying the trial issues, eliminating unsupported claims or defenses, admitting facts and documents to avoid unnecessary proof, stipulating to document authenticity, requesting advance rulings on evidence admissibility and pending motions, setting time limits for evidence and argument, estimating trial length, motions in limine, settlement and any special resolution procedures, and anything else that could help resolve the case justly, speedily, and inexpensively. Every unrepresented party and each represented party's lead trial counsel and local counsel must attend in person, unless the court authorizes another way to attend.

Frequently Asked Questions

What topics does a Maine BCD pretrial conference cover?

The joint final pretrial statement, narrowing the trial issues, evidentiary stipulations, advance rulings, time limits, trial length, motions in limine, settlement, and anything else serving a just, speedy, and inexpensive resolution.

Who must attend the BCD pretrial conference in person?

Every unrepresented party and each represented party's lead trial counsel and local counsel, unless the court authorizes attendance another way.

Source & verification. The rule text and Advisory Committee’s Notes / Reporter’s Notes are reproduced verbatim from the official Maine Rules of Civil Procedure (Me. R. Civ. P. 136), prescribed by the Supreme Judicial Court of Maine (4 M.R.S. § 8, the Rules Enabling Act). The plain-English summary is original and written by us. Last verified July 8, 2026. · Official source

Also known as: BCD pretrial conference Mainebusiness docket trial preparation