Code of Civil Procedure Article 270-1

For the purpose of clarifying the relations involved in the action, the commissioned judge may conduct the following activities without holding a session in public:1. To order the parties to explain the matters indicated in the preparatory pleadings;2. To order the parties to make statements with regard to the facts, documents, or objects;3. To formulate and simplify the issues;4. Other necessary matters.In conducting the proceeding provided in the preceding paragraph, the commissioned judge may excuse himself/herself or a party from the proceeding temporarily if he/she considers it appropriate to do so, or order the parties to reach an agreement, within a period of not more than seven days as he/she may designate, on simplifying the issues alleged or other matters which can expedite the litigation and make a joint report to the court. Notwithstanding, the parties shall be ordered no more than two times to reach such an agreement. The parties shall be bound by their agreement reached, if any, in accordance with the provisions of subparagraph of the preceding paragraph with regard to the issues they alleged, except where they have agreed on an amendment to said agreement, or where reasons exist not imputable to the parties, or other circumstances render such binding agreement manifestly unfair.