Rule 33. Staff Conference
(a)
Participation. The Court may direct the representatives and self-represented parties to participate in a staff conference, in person or by telephone, to consider refinement of the issues and such other matters as may help the Court resolve the case. When necessary following such a conference, the Court will enter an appropriate order to control future proceedings. This rule does not prevent the parties from discussing settlement or agreeing to dismiss the appeal before argument or submission of the case. See also Rule
34
(f).
(b)
Nondisclosure to Judges. Statements made during a conference may not be disclosed to a judge of the Court as having been made during a conference unless the parties agree in writing to such disclosure. This subsection does not apply to a conference that has failed to resolve a dispute about the content of the record on appeal.