Rule 6.020.Court Notification on Settlement or Change of Plea
Current through August 1, 2026 · Last verified September 12, 2026
Full Text of Rule 6.020
Plain-English Summary
The rule creates two reporting duties. In criminal cases the parties must notify the court immediately of any decision that a case will be dismissed or a change of plea entered. In every other case the parties must immediately notify the court of a decision to settle, dismiss, or otherwise resolve it. The word is immediately, not at the next scheduled appearance and not when the paperwork is ready.
Once the court has that notice, it has choices. It may require the parties to put the decision on the record, or give written notice that the case will be dismissed unless an appropriate judgment is tendered within 28 days, or do both. So telling the court a case is resolved does not end the work. A judgment still has to reach the court, and the 28-day notice is how the court prompts one.
Subsection (3) is the one that costs money. In a civil action, if the parties fail to notify the court of a settlement before 12:00 p.m. on the last judicial day preceding a jury trial, or if the case settles after that hour, the court may assess the per diem fees and mileage costs of bringing in the jury panel for that trial. The assessment can fall on one party or both, and it is discretionary rather than automatic.
The practical lesson is to treat noon on the last judicial day before a jury trial as a hard reporting deadline, which for a Monday trial usually means Friday. A settlement reached after that hour is still reportable, and the cost of the panel is assessable from that point.
Frequently Asked Questions
How fast do I have to tell the court my case settled?
Immediately. The rule uses that word for both the criminal duty and the duty in all other cases. A call or filing the same day the decision is made is what the rule contemplates, not a notice timed to the next hearing.
What happens if we settle the night before a jury trial?
The court may assess the per diem fees and mileage costs of bringing in the jury panel for that trial. The trigger is the noon cutoff on the last judicial day before trial: miss it, or settle after it, and the assessment becomes available to the court.
Do we still have to submit a judgment after reporting a settlement?
Yes, and the rule gives the court a way to press for one. After receiving notice, the court may give the parties written notice that the case will be dismissed unless an appropriate judgment is tendered within 28 days. It may also require the parties to put the decision on the record, or do both.
Does this rule apply to criminal cases?
Yes. Subsection (1) covers criminal cases and requires immediate notice of any decision that a case will be dismissed or a change of plea entered. The jury panel cost provision, by contrast, is written for civil actions.
Who ends up paying the jury costs?
The rule lets the court assess the costs on one or both parties, and it says the court may do so rather than must. Which side pays, and whether anyone does, is the judge's call on the facts of the late notice.