Selection for case. Parties have ten days from the time of the required premediation session to select a mediator from the court's register of mediators, special masters, and arbitrators. If they cannot agree, the court selects the mediator from the register. Local Rule 39.1 does not address this issue. The court believes that mediators have absolute quasi-judicial immunity under case law.
Mediators serve without pay.
The mediation program is administered by the chambers of each judge. Arbitration in Washington Eastern Overview Description and authorization. Nonbinding, voluntary arbitration is one of several forms of ADR adopted in 1988 in the Eastern District of Washington. Authorized by Local Rule 39.1, referral to arbitration usually occurs in cases that have participated in the court's mediation program but have failed to settle. Parties to any other case may also use arbitration by stipulation and with approval of the court.