Rule 6 . Pretrial conferences.

1. The trial judge may require a pretrial conference upon the judge’s own motion or upon motion made at least 30 days prior to trial. 2. Pretrial conferences may include settlement negotiations. In the event either party desires to conduct a settlement conference before a judge other than the trial judge, that party shall first obtain the authorization of the trial judge, who may then assign the settlement conference to another judge, senior judge or master. 3. The judge may, for good cause, continue the pretrial conference for a limited period of time to a time certain.