Legal Definitions - prehearing conference

A prehearing conference is a meeting that can be held before an appeal in a complex civil, criminal, tax, or agency case. It is optional and attended by the attorneys involved in the case and a court representative, such as a judge, staff attorney, or deputy clerk.

The purpose of the conference is to discuss procedural and substantive matters related to the case. In a complex or multiparty case, the conference provides a forum to discuss briefing responsibilities, timing, handling the record and joint appendix, and the amount of oral argument desired by the parties.

For example, in a tax case involving multiple parties and legal issues, a prehearing conference may be held to discuss the timing of briefs, the handling of the record, and the amount of oral argument desired by the parties. This can help streamline the appeal process and ensure that all parties are on the same page.