a. In General. All proceedings in eviction actions shall be recorded, either through a recording device or by a certified reporter. Each court shall provide the option for landlords, tenants, attorneys, and witnesses to participate at an initial appearance by telephone or video conference. A court may require participants to provide notice of their intent to participate by telephone or video conference up to two hours before the hearing as is necessary to avoid delaying hearings. A participant may submit such notice via email, facsimile, telephone, or other electronic process. If one participant appears remotely, all other participants must also be permitted to appear remotely. Each court may provide this option routinely to all participants in all initial appearances.

b. Preliminary Procedures. On the date and at the time set for the initial appearance, and after announcing the name of the plaintiff and the defendant, the court shall:

d. Continuances. Whenever possible, the trial should be held on the initial return date. The court may order the continuance of a trial date by up to three court days in justice court or ten days in superior court on the request of a party for good cause shown or to accommodate the demands of the court's calendar, but the court nevertheless shall give priority to hearing and resolving alleged “immediate and irreparable” evictions. No continuance of more than three court days in justice courts or ten days in superior courts may be ordered unless both parties are in agreement.

e. Trial Settings. Contested detainer matters shall be set for a trial by a judge alone unless a jury trial is demanded by the plaintiff in the complaint or by the defendant at or before the initial appearance. Failure to request a jury trial at or before the initial appearance shall be deemed a waiver of that party's right to a jury trial. At the initial appearance, if a jury trial has been demanded, the court shall inquire and determine the factual issues to be determined by the jury. If no factual issues exist for the jury to determine, the matter shall proceed to a trial by the judge alone regarding any legal issues or may disposed of by motion or in accordance with these rules, as appropriate.

f. Pleading Requirement. Except for those additional damage items contemplated by Rule 13(c)(2), the plaintiff shall not be permitted to advance allegations at the initial appearance or any subsequent trial unless those allegations were properly stated in the complaint. The defendant shall not be permitted to advance allegations at a continued trial that were not included in a written answer or counterclaim or in an oral answer made at the initial appearance.