(a) Purpose. The purpose of a prehearing conference is for the parties, their attorneys, or both to meet with an incumbent or senior judge of the Court designated by the Chief Judge to discuss:

(b) Order of Chief Judge. An order of the Chief Judge referring the appeal to a prehearing conference shall direct the parties, their attorneys, or both to appear before a designated incumbent or retired judge of the Court at a time and place specified in the order or to be determined by the designated judge.

(c) Scheduling Conference. If the parties are unable to achieve any of the objectives set forth in section (a) of this Rule but agree that a scheduling conference pursuant to Rule 8-206 would be useful, the Chief Judge may authorize the judge who conducted the prehearing conference to conduct a scheduling conference or direct the parties, their attorneys, or both to appear before another judge of the Court designated by the Chief Judge for that purpose.

(e) Sanctions. Upon the failure of a party or attorney to comply with an order entered under section (b) of this Rule, the Court, after an opportunity for a hearing, may impose any appropriate sanction, including (1) dismissal of the appeal, (2) assessing against the party or attorney the reasonable expenses caused by the failure including reasonable attorney's fees, and (3) assessing against the party or attorney all or part of the appellate costs.

(f) Recusal. A judge who conducts a prehearing conference under this Rule may not sit as a member of a panel, including an in banc panel, assigned to hear the appeal if it proceeds, and shall not participate in any court conference regarding a judicial resolution of the appeal or whether an opinion in the appeal should be designated as reported.

Source: This Rule is new.