A "pretrial" WHAT? A pre-trial HEARING - yes. A pre-trial CONFERENCE - no.
Pretrial negotiation conference
Pretrial Negotiation Conference
Usually only if you are called as a witness.
At a pretrial conference.
it depends on whether the trial is civil or criminal
For a discussion of pre-trial conferences, see the below link: :
Pleadings, Discovery, Pretrial Conference, Trial, Appeal.
Discovery, pretrial conference, trial, pleadings, appeal
Yes.
The same as for ANY trial or hearing. It is a planning conference where the opposing attorneys meet with the judge and lay out the outlines of their cases so that an estimate may be made of the court time that will be necessary to conduct the case. Neither the plaintiff nor the respondent need to be present as no legal matters will be discussed.
Generally, the parties do not appear at a pre-trial conference, because it is a conference the judge has with all attorneys and pro se parties to discuss the many aspects of the procedural status of the case and determine when it should be ready for trial.