Rule 16.3 Conflicting Settings And Requests For Continuances.

When the court has set a case for trial, other hearing, or pretrial conference that conflicts with a court appearance of counsel in other courts, the first case having a firm setting shall control, whether such first case is set by this or some other court, and other courts are expected to yield to the prior firm setting, as this court will do when other cases have prior settings in other courts, consistent with the policy adopted by the State-Federal Judicial Council. When a case has not been reached as scheduled, the court, in resetting the case, shall take into account the obligations of counsel on the basis of the first-setting rule. If a conflict develops, it is the absolute duty of counsel to immediately advise the court of the later setting in order that the conflict might be resolved and calendars cleared for other settings. It is essential for counsel and the court or courts involved to resolve potential conflicts at the earliest practical date.