Chief Justice Charles Canady proclaims October 11-17 as Mediation Week in Florida’s courts, marking the importance of alternative dispute resolution as an effective substitute to litigation. Alternative dispute resolution has been used by Florida courts for more than 30 years. More than 5,400 mediators are certified by the Florida Dispute Resolution Center by standards set by the Florida Supreme Court.

Alternative dispute resolution has been used by Florida courts for more than 30 years. More than 5,400 mediators are certified by the Florida Dispute Resolution Center by standards set by the Florida Supreme Court. Certifications are offered in the areas of county, family, circuit, dependency, and appellate court cases. In most cases, parties select the mediator of their own choice. However, certified mediators may be appointed by the court when litigants are unable to select their own. Certified mediators and those individuals who are not certified but who mediate court-ordered cases are bound by the ethical standards contained in rules established by the Supreme Court.

The annual focus on alternative dispute resolution highlights how individuals, administrative agencies, and businesses can effectively use the method to develop solutions to conflicts tailored to specific needs.

The Florida Dispute Resolution Center was created during the mid-1980s to assist courts in developing ADR programs and to conduct education and research on alternative dispute resolution in general. Mediators are not allowed to decide who is right or wrong or to tell participants how to resolve a dispute. In mediation, those who take part can try to find solutions that make sense to all involved in the dispute.

Mediation coordinators in courts around the state are marking the week with informational campaigns and other celebrations of alternative dispute resolution.

In addition to highlighting the benefits of mediation, Mediation Week is an opportunity to recruit new mediators to the certification process. Many kinds of people can be mediators: mental health or business professionals; attorneys; educators; and others. To become certified by the Florida Supreme Court, a mediator must meet a number of standards. Information on requirements and training is available at flcourts.org. There, information for mediators and for parties is available to help better understand alternative dispute resolution and how to pursue a mediated resolution to disputes.

View Chief Justice Canady’s proclamation.