Rule 16.Pretrial conferences; scheduling; management

Title III: Pleadings; Motions; Scheduling · Last amended July 1, 2016 · Last verified July 14, 2026

In one sentenceRule 16 requires courts to set scheduling and pretrial conferences that fix trial dates and deadlines, lets a party ask for a trial setting if the court hasn't acted, and authorizes sanctions against anyone who ignores the resulting orders.

Full Text of Rule 16

Text sizeJump to: (a) (b) (c) (d) (e)

(a) Scheduling conferences and orders.

(1) Scheduling conferences; When held. Within 30 days after an answer or notice of appearance has been filed, or, within 90 days after a complaint has been filed, if one or more defendants have been served but no appearance has been made, a court must take action, by setting a scheduling conference, requesting available trial dates, or by another method within the discretion of the presiding judge, which results in the filing of a scheduling order as soon as practicable after the action taken by the court.

(2) Scheduling order. The scheduling order must address:

(A) the setting of date(s) for trial and any pre-trial conferences;

(B) the setting of deadlines for joining other parties and amending the pleadings; for filing and hearing dispositive motions; for completing discovery; and, for disclosing expert witnesses;

(D) the need for a special master where appropriate; and

(E) any other matter which would aid in the speedy, fair and efficient disposition of the case.

(3) Modification of scheduling order. The dates set by the court in section (A) above must not be modified except by leave of the court on a showing of good cause. The dates and deadlines in the scheduling order pursuant to subdivision (B) above must not be modified except by leave of the court on a showing of good cause or by stipulation of all the parties and approval of the court.

(b) Request for trial setting by a party.

(1) In general. Should the court fail to set the matter for scheduling conference or otherwise to set the matter for trial, after all defendants have appeared, a party may request that the court set the matter for trial and that any other deadlines and pretrial conferences be established.

(2) Information to be included. The request must indicate:

(A) the nature of the case;

(B) whether a jury trial has been demanded;

(D) an estimate of the time required for trial;

(E) the name of the attorney who will appear at trial; and

(F) the dates upon which the attorney and party would not be available for trial.

(3) Response to the request by other parties. A response must be filed and served within 7 days after being served with the request for trial setting. The response must contain the information required in subsection (b)(2) of this rule.

(4) Action by the court. After the time for filing a response to the request has passed, the court must either issue a scheduling order pursuant to subsection (a)(2) of this rule or set the request for hearing.

(1) Final pretrial procedure. At least 30 days before trial, the court must engage in a pretrial process, which may include a formal pretrial conference, a pretrial memorandum submitted by the parties, pretrial submissions by stipulation of the parties, or other methods within the discretion of the court, by which the parties are required to confirm that the matter is proceeding to trial in the manner required by the scheduling order. If a formal pretrial conference is held, at least one attorney for each represented party participating in the pretrial conference must have authority to enter into stipulations and to make admissions regarding all matters that may be reasonably anticipated. If a formal pretrial conference is held, it must be on the record.

(2) Subjects to be discussed at pretrial conference. At a pretrial conference, the court may consider and resolve the following:

(A) the status of mediation or ADR;

(B) the disposition of any pending motions;

(D) stipulations regarding the authenticity of exhibits;

(E) the advisability of any advanced rulings from the court concerning the admissibility of evidence;

(F) the avoidance of unnecessary proof and of cumulative evidence;

(G) the necessity of amendments to the pleadings pursuant to Rule 15(b);

(H) the formulation and simplification of the issues to be presented at trial, including the elimination of abandoned or unsustainable claims and defenses;

(I) the identification of witnesses and exhibits;

(J) the pre-marking of exhibits and procedures for the handling of exhibits, in conformance with Idaho Court Administrative Rule 71;

(K) jury instructions and jury selection issues;

(L) the need for an interpreter for any party or witness;

(M) the need for pre-trial briefing, and filing deadlines, if necessary;

(N) the availability and use of any technology in the courtroom; and

(O) any other matter which would aid in the fair and efficient resolution of the case.

(d) Exhibits and witnesses. The court may order the parties to file a list of all trial exhibits and names and addresses of witnesses who may testify, except impeachment exhibits and witnesses. Exhibits and witnesses discovered after the date set for disclosure must be supplemented, indicating the date the exhibit or witness was discovered. The court may exclude any untimely disclosed witness or exhibit, except for good cause and to prevent injustice.

(e) Sanctions.

(1) Grounds. The court may sanction any party or attorney if a party or attorney:

(A) fails to obey a scheduling or pretrial order;

(B) fails to appear at a scheduling or pretrial conference;

(D) fails to participate in good faith.

(2) Sanctions allowed. The court may make such orders as are just, and may, along with any other sanction, make any of the orders allowed under Rule 37(b)(2)(A). Also, in addition to or in the place of any other sanction, the court must require the party or the party's attorney, or both, pay any expenses incurred because of noncompliance with this rule, including attorney's fees, unless the court finds noncompliance was substantially justified or that circumstance are such that such an award of expenses would be unjust.

End

Amendment History

(Adopted March 1, 2016, effective July 1, 2016.)

Plain-English Summary

Every civil case needs a map from filing to trial, and Rule 16 makes the court draw one early. Soon after a defendant answers or appears, the judge must act, whether by holding a scheduling conference, requesting trial dates, or another method, so that a scheduling order comes out promptly. That order sets the trial date and pretrial conference dates, deadlines for adding parties and amending pleadings, deadlines for dispositive motions and discovery, and whether mediation or a special master would help the case move. Once set, the trial date can be changed only for good cause, and the other deadlines can change for good cause or when every party agrees and the court signs off.

If the court never gets around to scheduling the case, a party doesn't have to wait indefinitely. Once every defendant has appeared, any party may ask the court to set a trial date, and the request must describe the case, say whether a jury has been demanded, flag whether ADR would help, estimate how long trial will take, name the trial attorney, and list dates the attorney and party cannot try the case. Other parties get seven days to respond with the same information, and after that the court either issues a scheduling order or sets the request for a hearing.

As trial nears, Rule 16 calls for a final pretrial process, at least 30 days out, to confirm the case is on track. A formal pretrial conference, if held, goes on the record, and the attorneys attending must have authority to stipulate and make admissions. The conference can narrow the issues, resolve exhibit and witness questions, address jury instructions, and settle anything else that would make trial run smoother. Courts may also order exhibit and witness lists in advance and exclude undisclosed items absent good cause. Anyone who ignores a scheduling or pretrial order, skips the conference, or shows up unprepared can be sanctioned, including being ordered to pay the other side's resulting expenses and attorney's fees.

Frequently Asked Questions

When must the court set a scheduling conference?

Within 30 days after an answer or notice of appearance is filed, or within 90 days after the complaint is filed if a defendant has been served but hasn't yet appeared.

What does a scheduling order have to cover?

Trial and pretrial conference dates, deadlines for joining parties and amending pleadings, deadlines for dispositive motions, discovery, and expert disclosures, and whether mediation, ADR, or a special master would help the case.

Can the trial date be moved once it's set?

Only for good cause and with the court's leave. Other scheduling deadlines can also change by agreement of all parties with the court's approval.

What if the court never schedules my case?

Once all defendants have appeared, a party can request a trial setting, providing details like jury demand, ADR suitability, trial length, and attorney availability. Other parties have seven days to respond.

What happens if I miss a scheduling or pretrial deadline?

The court can sanction a party or attorney, and generally must order payment of the other side's resulting expenses and attorney's fees, unless the noncompliance was substantially justified or an award would be unjust.

Source & verification. Rule text are reproduced verbatim from the Idaho Rules of Civil Procedure, adopted by the Supreme Court of Idaho. Last verified July 14, 2026. · Official source

Also known as: scheduling order idahopretrial conference ruletrial setting requestdiscovery deadlines lawsuitcase management ordersanctions for missing court deadline