Rule 5-603. Pretrial hearing.

At any time after the filing of the information or indictment, the court may order the attorneys to appear before it for a hearing, at which the defendant shall have the right to be present, to consider: A. the simplification of the issues; B. the possibility of obtaining admissions of fact and documents which will avoid unnecessary proof; C. the number of expert witnesses, character witnesses or other witnesses who are to give testimony of a cumulative nature; and D. such other matters as may aid in the disposition of the trial. Upon request of any party, a record shall be made of a hearing, or any part thereof, held pursuant to this rule. The court shall make an order reciting the agreements made and matters determined which shall be signed by the court and the attorneys for the parties, and when entered shall control the subsequent course of the proceedings, unless thereafter modified. This rule shall not be invoked in the case of any defendant who is not represented by counsel.