Privacy in mediation bears close monitoring A uniform mediation act, with confidentiality of discussion at its core, poses a danger to public access of information when public bodies or public officials seek mediation rather than the courts for resolution of disputes.
Mediation is one answer to a societal problem of seeking a timely day in court.
Representatives of the American Bar Association and the National Conference of Commissioners on Uniform State Laws met March 19-21 in Indianapolis to continue discussion and refine draft language for a uniform act on mediation. The Society of Professional Journalists has status as an observer. Other observers represented the interests of mediators. SPJ will continue to participate in discussions by this drafting committee because of the inherent risk of hiding the public's business under the cloak of confidentiality through this act. The eventual outcome, a proposed uniform act on mediation, may be presented to all state legislatures for adoption.