As one of the ten pilot courts established by the CJRA, the court is part of the RAND study of the pilot and comparison districts, which will be reported to Congress by the Judicial Conference in 1996. Any civil case may be referred to mediation by a judge or party at any time appropriate for the case. A single mediator meets with parties to try to reach settlement or, failing that, to help narrow issues. Direct discussions between parties may be encouraged, or shuttle diplomacy may be used. Some mediators offer evaluations of the case, but no dispositive decisions are given.
Sessions lasting for more than one day occasionally occur, and the entire process is confidential.
The mediator's fee is paid by the parties. Number of cases. Case selection Eligibility of cases. All civil cases are eligible for referral to mediation. The most common referrals are contract, tort, civil rights, and labor cases.