What Happens at a Pretrial Conference in Florida?
What happens at a pretrial conference in Florida confuses almost everyone who gets swept into the criminal justice system for the first time. After an arrest, court dates start piling up with unfamiliar legal titles, and nobody outside a small circle of attorneys, clerks, and judges really understands what any of these hearings actually involve. A pretrial conference is one of the most common of these dates, and the good news is that it’s genuinely simple once someone actually explains it.
Have a Pretrial Conference Coming Up in Florida?
Understanding what actually happens at this hearing removes a lot of unnecessary anxiety. Call John Guidry at (407) 423-1117 to talk through your specific case.
The Simple Purpose of a Pretrial Conference
A pretrial conference exists for one straightforward purpose: it’s the court date where attorneys update the judge on the current status of a case. That’s genuinely the entire function of the hearing. Nothing more complicated happens here.
Here’s how it plays out in practice. The clerk announces the defendant’s name, and the defense attorney approaches the podium. The judge then asks a simple question along these lines: where does this case currently stand? Answering that question is essentially the whole pretrial conference.
The Only Three Answers an Attorney Can Give
When a defense attorney stands at that podium, only three possible answers exist, and every pretrial conference boils down to one of them.
The first option: the case is ready for trial. The attorney tells the judge the defense wants to proceed and asks when the court can schedule jury selection.
The second option: the case has been resolved through a negotiated plea. The attorney informs the judge that both sides reached an agreement and requests a date to formally enter that plea before the court.
The third option, and by far the most common one heard in pretrial conferences across Florida, is a request for a continuance, meaning more time is needed before the case can move forward. Plenty of legitimate reasons drive this request. Sometimes the state hasn’t yet turned over evidence the defense is entitled to receive through discovery. Sometimes a witness failed to appear for a scheduled deposition, requiring that deposition to be rescheduled before the case can realistically proceed. Whatever the specific reason, a continuance request simply tells the judge that both sides need additional time to prepare properly.
Why Some Judges Keep It Simple
Some judges in Central Florida have grown tired of attorneys who over-explain during pretrial conferences when a hearing this simple doesn’t require lengthy justification. It’s common to see reminders posted in certain courtrooms instructing attorneys to limit their answer to one of exactly three words: trial, plea, or continuance. No extended explanation, no unnecessary detail. Pretrial conferences move quickly specifically because they’re designed to convey basic case status, not to argue the merits of anything.
Why the Actual Hearing Takes Only Minutes
Here’s something that surprises people who’ve never sat through this process. Attending a pretrial conference often means spending hours in a courthouse waiting for a specific case to get called, since courts schedule many cases for the same time slot and work through them one at a time. However, once a case actually gets called, the pretrial conference itself typically lasts only a couple of minutes. The attorney gives one of the three answers, the judge notes it, and the hearing moves to the next case on the docket.
Most of the time spent at a pretrial conference is waiting, not actually appearing before the judge. Understanding that distinction in advance helps set realistic expectations for anyone facing one of these hearings for the first time.
If You Want More Related Content
Check out our more videos and breakdown articles covering major updates in Florida defense law. You can also use the links below to stay informed. Learn how to protect your constitutional rights when dealing with law enforcement.
Watch: Must I Appear at Pretrial Conference in Florida?
Read: https://jgcrimlaw.com/articles/pretrial-motions-drug-trafficking-florida/
John’s Takeaways
- A pretrial conference exists to update the judge on the current status of a case. That’s the entire purpose of the hearing, nothing more complicated.
- A defense attorney can only give one of three answers at pretrial: the case is ready for trial, the case has been resolved through a plea, or the defense needs a continuance.
- A continuance request, the most common outcome, often stems from missing discovery or a witness who failed to appear for a deposition.
- Some Florida courtrooms limit attorneys to answering with just one word: trial, plea, or continuance. These hearings don’t require lengthy explanation.
- Most of the time spent at a pretrial conference involves waiting for the case to be called. The actual hearing itself typically lasts only a couple of minutes once it begins.
Have a Pretrial Conference Coming Up in Central Florida?
I’ve been handling pretrial conferences across Central Florida since 1993, and understanding exactly what to expect removes a lot of unnecessary stress from these hearings. I represent clients across Orange, Seminole, Osceola, Lake, Brevard, and Volusia County.
Give my office a call. Let’s talk through where your case currently stands and what to expect at your next hearing.
John Guidry — (407) 423-1117
About John Guidry II
John Guidry II is a seasoned criminal defense attorney and founder of the Law Firm of John P. Guidry II, P.A., located in downtown Orlando next to the Orange County Courthouse, where he has practiced for over 33 years. With more than three decades of experience defending clients throughout Central Florida since 1993, Guidry has successfully defended thousands of cases in Orange, Seminole, Osceola, Brevard, Lake, and Volusia counties. He has built a reputation for his strategic approach to criminal defense, focusing on pretrial motions and case dismissals rather than jury trials.
John Guidry earned both his Juris Doctorate and Master of Business Administration from St. Louis University in 1993. He is a member of the Florida Bar and the Florida Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers. His practice encompasses the full spectrum of Florida state criminal charges, with a particular emphasis on achieving favorable outcomes through thorough pretrial preparation and motion practice.
Beyond the courtroom, Guidry is a prolific legal educator who has authored over 400 articles on criminal defense topics. He shares his legal expertise through his popular YouTube channel, Instagram, and TikTok accounts, where he has built a substantial following of people eager to learn about the law. His educational content breaks down complex legal concepts into accessible information for the general public.
When not practicing law, Guidry enjoys tennis and pickleball, and loves to travel. Drawing from his background as a former recording studio owner and music video producer in the Orlando area, he brings a creative perspective to his legal practice and continues to apply his passion for video production to his educational content.