Rule 6.200.Pretrial Settlement Conferences
Current through August 1, 2026 · Last verified September 12, 2026
Full Text of Rule 6.200
Plain-English Summary
This rule does not itself set up a settlement conference. It authorizes each judicial district to adopt an SLR 6.012, or an SLR in chapter 12 where that chapter is dedicated to alternative dispute resolution, providing one uniform pretrial settlement conference procedure for all circuit court civil cases, including dissolution of marriage and post-judgment modification proceedings. The local rule is meant to fit the needs of that district's judges, attorneys, and litigants and to promote early pretrial settlements. The rule closes by reserving the number SLR 6.012 for exactly this purpose.
Four things the local rule should require. A conference must be held when one party requests it, conducted as the SLR provides, unless the opposing party demonstrates good cause why it should not be held. Each party, or a representative of a corporation or insurance company with full authority to settle and compromise the litigation, must personally appear, with the judge free to permit telephone appearances for good cause. Each conference should be scheduled with adequate time for meaningful discussion, and further conferences may be scheduled by the judge or by agreement of all attorneys and parties. And the conferences must not delay trial scheduling.
Five things the local rule should decide. Whether the settlement conference judge may go on to try the case if it does not settle. Whether a pretrial statement or other document must be submitted beforehand, when it is due, and whether it is confidential. Whether and when the settlement judge's own materials or notes may go into the trial court file if the case does not settle. How a settlement is reported and the case removed from the active trial docket. And whether a trial-setting conference comes before the settlement conference.
The practical consequence is that the answers vary by district. Read your district's own supplementary local rule before the conference, because this rule tells you what questions it answers rather than how it answers them.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is a pretrial settlement conference required in an Oregon civil case?
It depends on the judicial district. This rule authorizes each district to adopt the procedure but does not impose one. Where a district has adopted it, the local rule should provide that a conference must be held on one party's request unless the opposing party demonstrates good cause why it should not be.
Who has to attend the settlement conference?
Each party, or a representative of a corporation or insurance company who has full authority to settle and compromise the litigation, appearing personally. The judge may permit a telephone appearance for good cause.
Can the settlement conference judge also try my case?
That is one of the questions the district's own supplementary local rule is supposed to answer. This rule says the SLR should specify whether the settlement conference judge may act as trial judge if the case does not settle.
Will a settlement conference push back my trial date?
It should not. The rule says the local rule should provide that pretrial settlement conferences shall not delay the trial scheduling, so the conference is meant to run alongside the trial calendar rather than in place of it.
Does this cover divorce cases?
Yes. The procedure is for all circuit court civil cases, and the rule names dissolution of marriage and post-judgment modification proceedings among them.