Request for Status Conference

When the request for status conference is used

Timing: at any point in the case when the schedule needs attention or the parties need the court's guidance. Discovery is the stage where the parties exchange information. In most federal cases it follows the Rule 26(f) conference.

What the rule requires

• In any action, the court may order the attorneys and any unrepresented parties to appear for one or more pretrial conferences for purposes such as expediting disposition, establishing early and continuing control so the case will not be protracted because of lack of management, and facilitating settlement (Rule 16(a)).
• Rule 16(c)(2) lists matters the court may consider at a pretrial conference, including formulating and simplifying the issues, controlling and scheduling discovery, and settling the case.
• Judges' procedures often say how to request a conference — for example, by letter, by stipulation or through the courtroom deputy.

In practice, read each requirement closely. Then check whether your court adds anything of its own. For example, many courts set page limits, formatting rules or a duty to confer with the other side first.

You can read the full text of Fed. R. Civ. P. 16(a), 16(c) online. Also, the federal judiciary publishes the current rules and recent amendments.

The request for status conference in state court

This page covers the federal version. In state court, the request for status conference may have a different name, a different deadline or a different form. For example, a state may count days differently or require a separate notice. So start with your state’s rules of civil procedure, then check the local rules. Our state procedures guide links to the official rules for every state and DC.

Related procedures

Similarly, these procedures often come up alongside it:

• Scheduling Order and Pretrial Conferences: the court's order setting deadlines for joining parties, amending pleadings, completing discovery and filing motions, and the conferences that manage the case.
• Case Management Statement (Joint Report): a written report the parties file before a case management or scheduling conference, describing the case, the issues, discovery plans and proposed dates. In federal court it is usually the written report of the parties' Rule 26(f) discovery plan; many courts call it a joint case management statement.
• Motion to Modify the Scheduling Order: a request to change a deadline in the court's scheduling order.

Before you rely on this page

First, read the current text of the rule. After that, check your court’s local rules and any standing order from the judge. In addition, look at recent decisions from your own court. They show how judges apply the rule in practice. For advice about your own case, speak with a licensed attorney, for example through our directory.

State court procedure for this filing

The federal rule above applies in federal court. In state court, the same filing is governed by that state's own rules of civil procedure, statutes and local court rules. Many states model their rules on the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure, so the requirements are often similar, but names, numbers, deadlines and forms can differ. Always use the version that applies to the court where your case is filed.

Find the rule in your state

In your state's rules, look for the rule on request for status conference. In states that number their rules like the federal rules, it is often the same rule number as the federal rule.