a) Court ordered settlement conferences should generally occur prior to pretrial conference and if not, counsel should be prepared to announce scheduling of the same to the presiding Judge when they appear for pretrial conference.

b) Immediately upon Order for Settlement Conference, the presiding Judge and Counsel shall contact the Settlement Conference Judge for scheduling in accordance with the Settlement Conference Judge's calendar.

c) When a case is referred by a presiding Judge to a Judge for Settlement Conference a conflict check shall be discussed between the two Judges to determine if the referral is appropriate, but without discussion of any merit known, or anticipated legal and fact issues in the litigation.

d) After the conflict check is concluded and referral made to the Settlement Conference Judge, scheduling delivery of Settlement Conference statements to the Settlement Conference Judge, the date, time and location of settlement conference should occur. The Settlement Conference Judge should decide proper parties, persons, representatives, etc, to be in personal attendance at Settlement Conference. See Rule 5(L), District Court Rules, 12 O.S. Ch. 2, App.

e) The Settlement Conference Judge shall immediately cause the Settlement Conference scheduling information and Settlement Conference Order be memorialized by the presiding Judge or Secretary Bailiff of the District Judge for signature of the referring presiding Judge. The original Settlement Conference Order shall be filed in the case file and copies thereof mailed to the Settlement Conference Judge and respective Counsel.

f) Settlement Conference Statements prepared by Counsel or Pro Se parties SHALL NOT BE FILED IN THE CASE FILE. They are mailed directly to the Settlement Conference Judge.

g) Neither merits of the case litigation nor the events of the Settlement Conference shall be discussed between the presiding Judge and the Settlement Conference Judge unless the case is concluded as to all issues and appeal time has expired, or final appellate opinion has been rendered therein.