Pretrial conferences are scheduled when a not guilty plea is registered. Pretrial conferences are an opportunity for the defendant and the city attorney to discuss the facts of the case and attempt to resolve any issues in order to avert a trial.
If you enter a not guilty plea in advance of your initial appearance date, you will be scheduled for a pretrial conference which will be done over the phone. You will receive a notice telling you when your pretrial conference is scheduled for and giving you a phone number to call. Please note, it is up to you to call in. If you fail to call in at the scheduled time, you could be found guilty by default.
If you choose to come to court for your initial appearance and enter a not guilty plea in person, you may be able to meet with the city attorney immediately.
Plea Agreements
The judge reviews all plea agreements reached between a defendant and the city attorney. He either approves or rejects the plea agreement. Rejected plea agreements will either be renegotiated or scheduled for trial.