39 CFR 958.10 v2 – Prehearing conferences
(a) At a reasonable time after issuing the Notice of Docketing and Hearing, and with adequate notice to the parties, the Presiding Officer may conduct, in person or by telephone, one or more prehearing conferences to discuss the following:
Terms Used In 39 CFR 958.10 v2
- Discovery: Lawyers' examination, before trial, of facts and documents in possession of the opponents to help the lawyers prepare for trial.
- Pleadings: Written statements of the parties in a civil case of their positions. In the federal courts, the principal pleadings are the complaint and the answer.
- Presiding officer: A majority-party Senator who presides over the Senate and is charged with maintaining order and decorum, recognizing Members to speak, and interpreting the Senate's rules, practices and precedents.
(1) Simplification of the issues;
(2) The necessity or desirability of amendments to the pleadings, including the need for a more definite statement;
(3) Stipulations or admissions of fact or as to the contents and authenticity of documents;
(4) Limitation of the number of witnesses;
(5) Exchange of witness lists, copies of prior statements of witnesses, and copies of hearing exhibits;
(6) Scheduling dates for the exchange of witness lists and of proposed exhibits;
(7) Discovery;
(8) Possible changes in the scheduled oral hearing date, time or site, if requested; and
(9) Any other matters related to the proceeding.
(b) Within a reasonable time after the completion of a prehearing conference, the Presiding Officer shall issue an order detailing all matters agreed upon by the parties, or ordered by the Presiding Officer, at such conference.