Dispute Resolution Services
Guiding Principles
In 1991, the Supreme Court Advisory Committee on Dispute Resolution recommended the active development of dispute resolution programs for Ohio's courts. The Supreme Court adopted the committee's recommendations and created a special office within the Court. To date, the Dispute Resolution Section has helped establish mediation programs in more than 50 courts and has provided training for hundreds of mediators and attorneys.
Through services it provides, the section helps courts achieve the following goals:
- Efficient utilization of court resources. Dispute resolution programs offer high-quality services without penalties or inconvenience to citizens and aid in achieving docket reduction.
- Sustained public funding. Supported primarily by public funds, court-connected programs provide services at little or no cost to citizens.
- Public confidence. Programs maintain public confidence by handling disputes with fairness, impartiality and confidentiality.
- Protection of citizens' rights. Programs protect rights to trial and full, complete and fair hearings in court.
- Utilization of community resources. Courts utilize community-based dispute resolution programs.
- Continuous improvement. Evaluations of party satisfaction and perceptions of fairness guide program improvement and assure quality.
Program Development and Assistance
The Dispute Resolution Section staff consults with Ohio's trial and appellate courts at no cost to the courts. Services include:
- Assistance with mediation program planning and design
- Help in developing local mediation rules, forms and procedures
- Training about the mediation process and appropriate procedures for mediators, courts, local attorneys and other stakeholders
- Networking and mentoring assistance for program staff
- Program-specific consultation regarding the following:
- Civil Mediation for Common Pleas Courts
- Parenting Mediation for Domestic Relations and Juvenile Courts
- Child Protection Mediation for Juvenile Courts
- Delinquency and Status Offender Programs for Juvenile Courts
- Truancy Prevention Through Mediation
- Victim Offender Mediation
- Small Claims and General Civil Mediation for Municipal and County Courts
- Mediation for Intermediate Courts of Appeals and the Supreme Court of Ohio