Mediators Qualifications and training. To be a member of the court's roster of mediators, candidates must have been a member of a state or the District of Columbia bar for at least five years, must be admitted to practice in the Eastern District of New York, and must have completed at least two days of formal mediation training. Appointment to the roster is for three years, subject to renewal. A member is not expected to serve on more than two cases in a year and is not required to accept each assignment offered, but repeated rejection of assignments will lead to termination from the panel. Selection for case.
Parties have three options for selecting a mediator.
When parties choose to use a mediator from the court's roster, the clerk's office appoints a mediator who has expertise in the subject matter of the case. The request must be submitted to the clerk's office within ten days of notification of the mediator or of learning about the potential bias. A denial of the request is subject to review by the assigned judge on motion filed within ten days of the clerk's denial. This issue is not addressed in the court's rules. Mediators serve without compensation and receive credit for pro bono service.