The Federal Government channels tens of millions of dollars into mediation, mediators and training in education and school programs. My daughter's fourth grade classes included dispute resolution modules and have since pre-school. A complete re-review of the ethical issues implicit in Court Annexed Mediation Panels and the various methods used to limit the membership on such panels. The initial, limited, approach and analysis of the issues is important. However, it is important that this work be seen and used as a foundation, rather than being left as an end.
Mediation is a wide and varied area.
Further, many mediations require a very minimal skill set. This is an excellent time for scientific, non-partisan, comprehensive study and approaches. It is my hope that the Texas Supreme Court task force will go forward and succeed in creating such an approach from the foundation they have created. Preemption issues aside, federally financed, mandated, and promulgated programs involve hundreds of dispute resolution professionals and draw larger continuing education crowds than any other mediation related programs in the State of Texas. I should note that these people attend for the benefit of the classes and without any MCLE or similar requirements.