Also called a “pretrial motion,” a pretrial conference is a legal proceeding that happens before the trial begins. And its purpose is the make sure that it’s “fair and expeditious.” Both parties will sit together with the judge to determine which pieces of evidence and witness testimonies can be used in court. It’s also when your attorney can talk about a possible plea bargain with the District Attorney (such as pleading guilty to a less serious charge or reducing it from a felony to a misdemeanor). The majority of criminal cases never go to trial. Most of them will end through a plea bargain during the pretrial conference.