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.
Even with such a protocol, can a judge decline to schedule by refusing to accept or hear the case?
Doesn’t the Supreme Court do that?
Your posts were very informative, thank you.
I hope Judge Middlebrooks will not be influenced by being a Clinton appointee, but will be guided only by the facts and the law.