PREPARING FOR A COURT ORDERED MEDIATION

Court Ordered

 Before a hearing is scheduled, the judge in charge of the case may schedule a mediation session.In mediation, a specially-trained mediator (not the judge assigned to the case) meets with the parties and assists them to state their positions and to explore options to resolve the case.

Certain Rules govern the conduct of mediation. The mediator helps the parties to reach a mutually acceptable settlement of the case.

An Agreement to Mediate will be provided to the parties prior to mediation.There may be one or more mediation sessions.If an agreement is reached, it will be put into writing.If the case is not resolved by mediation, the case will return to the judge assigned to the case for a hearing.

Mediation sessions are confidential and the mediator will not share with the judge in charge of the case any information that came out in a mediation session.