Some jurisdictions require that plaintiff submit their medical malpractice case to a screening panel before they bring in the courts. The panel usually consists of a judge, an attorney and a medical practitioner who works in the field in which the complaint arises from. The purpose of these screening panels is to identify claims that have merit and encourage their settlement. Further, they attempt to identify claims without merit and encourage dismissal or withdrawal of the claim. The panel’s determinations usually are not binding and regardless of those determinations the plaintiff can still go to trial.