N.Y. Surr. Ct. Proc. Act § 510

§ 510. Pretrial conference\n At any time after issue has been joined, the court, in its discretion,\nmay require the attendance of all parties and counsel at one or more\npretrial conferences. The conferences shall be held for the purpose of\nsettlement negotiation, or, in the alternative, to narrow the issues for\ntrial, seek agreement among the parties and counsel as to the\nadmissibility of evidence, seek agreement as to the order in which\nwitnesses will be called, and otherwise provide for the speedy and\norderly conduct of trial. Absent objection placed on the record, during\na pretrial conference the court may confer with any party or parties and\ntheir counsel outside of the presence of any other party or parties and\ntheir respective counsel.\n