The court may conduct a settlement conference or schedule any other settlement event in any civil action on its or a party’s request. Except in Track IV cases, there shall be no more than one court-initiated or court-mandated settlement conference or other settlement event prior to the trial date. Notwithstanding the conduct of a settlement conference or other settlement event as herein provided, a second settlement conference may be conducted on the trial date and immediately prior to the commencement of trial, provided that trial shall then forthwith proceed if settlement is not reached. The settlement conference need not be conducted by the designated pretrial judge.
Rule 4:5B-3.Settlement conferences
Last amended September 5, 2000 · Current through June 18, 2026 · Last verified July 7, 2026
In one sentenceRule 4:5B-3 lets the court hold a settlement conference or other settlement event in any civil action, capping court-initiated settlement conferences at one before the trial date except in Track IV, with a second permitted on the trial date itself.
Full Text of Rule 4:5B-3
Amendment History
New Jersey publishes each rule’s amendment record in a “History” note beneath the rule. It is reproduced verbatim below; the “R.R.” citations refer to the former Revised Rules numbering the current rules replaced.
Adopted July 5, 2000 to be effective September 5, 2000.
Plain-English Summary
Courts can bring the parties together to settle. Under this rule a judge may hold a settlement conference or schedule another settlement event in any civil action, on the court’s or a party’s request. Outside Track IV, the court initiates no more than one such conference before the trial date, which keeps the effort focused.
A final push is allowed at the courthouse door. A second settlement conference may be held on the trial date, immediately before trial begins, but if the case does not settle, trial proceeds at once. The conference need not be run by the designated pretrial judge.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many settlement conferences will the court hold?
Outside Track IV, no more than one court-initiated settlement conference before the trial date, plus a possible second conference on the trial date itself immediately before trial.
Source & verification. The rule text and amendment history are reproduced verbatim from the
official New Jersey Rules of Court (N.J. Ct. R. 4:5B-3). Prescribed by the Supreme Court of New Jersey (N.J. Const. art. VI, § 2, ¶ 3). The plain-English summary is original and written by us. Last verified July 7, 2026. ·
Official source
Also known as: settlement conferencesettlement eventcourt-mandated settlement