A pre-trial conference in Rhode Island District Court is typically scheduled two to three weeks after the arraignment. At this conference the prosecution provides the defense with discovery materials including police reports, witness statements, and evidence the state plans to use at trial. Your lawyer reviews the discovery, identifies weaknesses in the state's case, files motions to suppress unlawfully obtained evidence, and discusses potential plea options with the prosecutor. Most Rhode Island District Court cases resolve at the pre-trial stage through negotiation rather than going to trial. The pre-trial conference is where the real defense work happens.
