The following Code of Pretrial Conduct and Code of Trial Conduct developed by the American College of Trial Lawyers (Copyright © 2002 American College of Trial Lawyers) is hereby made a part of the Local Rules for Judicial District 20A.
Lawyers should treat all other lawyers, all parties, and all witnesses courteously, not only in court, but also in other written and oral communication. Lawyers should refrain from acting upon or manifesting bias or prejudice toward any person based upon race, sex, religion, national origin, disability, age, sexual orientation, or socioeconomic status.
In discovery, as in all other professional matters, a lawyer's conduct should be honest, fair, and courteous. In general, a lawyer should adhere to the following guidelines in conducting all forms of discovery:
When giving such notice, the lawyer should advise the opponent of the basis for seeking immediate relief and should make reasonable efforts to accommodate the opponent's schedule so that the party affected may be represented.
This Code of Pretrial Conduct is intended to provide guidance for a lawyer's professional conduct except to the extent that any applicable law, code, rules of procedure, or rules of professional conduct under North Carolina Law require or permit otherwise. Any violation of these rules may constitute the basis for a reprimand by the Court or sanctions under Rule 37 of the North Carolina Rules of Civil Procedure when substantial violations occur. Violations of these rules may also concurrently be violations of the applicable law, code or rules of professional conduct of North Carolina and may constitute the basis for a disciplinary proceeding.
N.C. R. Prac. Sup. & Dist. Ct. Civ. P. 25