Calendar

When used as a verb, the word 'calendar' is slang for scheduling a trial. (For example, 'The Murphy divorce case is calendared for September 3rd.') When used as a noun, it refers to a master list kept by a court, called the civil calendar, which shows cases that are ready for or in trial. Some states do not allow cases to be placed on a court calendar until all preliminary procedures, such as discovery and motions, have been completed. Unless the plaintiff or defendant (or one of their lawyers) requests that a case be placed on this calendar, it will never be scheduled for trial. In fact, many cases are dismissed every year because attorneys fail to take this vitally important step.