Minn. R. Civ. P. 16.01 (2026)
Pretrial Conferences; Objectives
In any action, the court may in its discretion direct the attorneys for the parties and any self-represented litigants to appear before it for a conference or conferences before trial for such purposes as:
(a) expediting the disposition of the action;
(b) establishing early and continuing control so that the case will not be protracted because of lack of management;
(c) discouraging wasteful pretrial activities;
(d) improving the quality of the trial through more thorough preparation; and
(e) facilitating the settlement of the case.
(Amended effective July 1, 2015.)