[smoothsailing]

The judge did not decide anything. This is just a routine scheduling order

Was the judge required by law to issue the order? Did he have options? If so, what were they?

[T Ruth]

I am not familiar with that court in particular, but often such orders are required by a court-wide case management protocol. The idea is to get a trial date scheduled so that the court’s docket keeps moving. A fixed trial date encourages the lawyers not to dally, not to mention encouraging settlement negotiations.