It is impossible to predict a precise time line for cases. However, most cases in North Carolina trial courts generally appear for the first time on a jury calendar eight to twelve months after the answer is filed by the defendant. If the court where your case is filed is very busy, it may take longer for your case to appear on the calendar.
Once the case appears on the calendar it can be several terms of court before your case advances to the top of the calendar so that it can be reached for trial. However, you will need to clear your calendar and be available for any week that your case is on the trial calendar.
Please understand that scheduling is largely controlled by the Trial Court Administrator and depends upon a number of factors out of your lawyer’s control.
Some factors that may influence how quickly your case gets to trial are the amount of depositions and difficulty in scheduling depositions, new information that arises during discovery, and conflicts with cases scheduled for trial in other courts. Our firm will do our best to let you know as early as possible when anticipated schedules may be changed.