Sentence:  The first pretrial <WSD>conference</WSD> - held to appoint amici curiae to represent the interest of the stockholders of du Pont and General Motors and to consider the procedure to be followed in the subsequent hearings - took place on September 25 , 1957 . 
Meaning of the word marked with <WSD> tags:  a prearranged meeting for consultation or exchange of information or discussion (especially one with a formal agenda)