What is a Pretrial Conference?

A pretrial is an informal meeting between your attorney and the prosecutor.  You will not be permitted to attend the pretrial.  In most cases, you will wait in the hallway or court lobby while your attorney goes into the prosecutor’s office to discuss your case.  A pretrial is an opportunity for your attorney and the prosecutor to discuss your case, exchange any “discovery,” and come to a possible resolution of the case (plea bargain).    Discovery is any information or evidence that the prosecutor has about your case including the police report, blood alcohol tests, and any video of the arrest.  Sometimes it may take several pretrials to obtain all the discovery in your case.  Once you and your attorney have all the discovery, you will be in a position to decide whether or not a plea bargain is in your best interest.