Rule 33. Appeal Conference

(a) Participation. The Court may direct the representatives and parties without representatives to participate in a prehearing conference, in person or by telephone, to consider simplification of the issues and such other matters as may help the Court resolve the case. The Court will enter an appropriate order to control future proceedings.

This rule does not prevent the parties from discussing settlement or agreeing to dismiss the appeal at any time before argument or submission of the case.

(b) Nondisclosure to Judges. Statements made during a conference may not be disclosed to a judge of the Court as having been made during a conference unless the parties agree in writing to such disclosure. This subsection does not apply to a conference which has failed to resolve a dispute about the content of the record on appeal.