Scheduling orders are part of case management, which in legal terms
refers to the schedule of proceedings involved in a matter. There are various
stages in litigation, such as the filing of a complaint, answers, the discovery
process (interrogatories, subpoenae, depostions, etc.), and motions that
occur before a trial is held or a decision is rendered. Each stage of the
process has a scheduled timeframe in which it must be filed with the court
or completed. When a complaint is filed and a case is assigned to a judge,
the judge will often set forth a schedule for the submission or completion
of the relevant pleadings, court appearances, and other matters.
