Source: https://www.clermontlawlibrary.com/clermont-county-juvenile-court-to-adopt-rule-35/
Timestamp: 2020-08-14 17:48:56
Document Index: 156910725

Matched Legal Cases: ['§3109', '§2151', '§3113', '§2710', '§2710', '§3109', '§2710', '§2151', '§3113']

Clermont County Juvenile Court to Adopt Rule 35 | Clermont County Law Library
The Clermont County Juvenile Court will adopt RULE 35 dealing with Mediation effective January 1, 2020. The Local Rule has been adopted to comply with the mandates of Rule 16 of the Rules of Superintendence of the Courts of Ohio as adopted by the Ohio Supreme Court. Following review of the Rule, please direct any questions, comments, or concerns to Gary Bryant, the Juvenile Court Administrator, at gbryant@clermontcountyohio.gov. The comment period will close on January 10, 2020.
Judge, Clermont County Probate/Juvenile Court
Rule 35:	MEDIATION
35.01	Ohio Uniform Mediation Act
The Court hereby adopts and incorporates by reference as if fully written herein the provisions of the Ohio Uniform Mediation Act set forth in Chapter 2710 of the Ohio Revised Code, the provisions of §3109.052 of the Ohio Revised Code dealing with Mediation of Differences as to Allocation of Parental Rights and Responsibilities and Rule 16 of the Ohio Rules of Superintendence.
Cases eligible for mediation shall include, but not be limited to those actions concerning the allocation of parental rights and responsibilities or the care of, or parenting time or companionship time with minor children or delinquency or status offenses, and abuse, neglect and dependency cases.
35.02	Cases Eligible for Mediation
The Court has discretion to encourage parties to use mediation in any civil action filed in this court. A case may be submitted to mediation as provided in this rule. The Judge or Magistrate may issue an order on its own motion, upon the motion of counsel, upon the request of a party, or upon referral by the mediator.
35.03	Mediation Prohibited
Mediation is prohibited in the following circumstances:
(a)	As an alternative to the prosecution or adjudication of domestic violence;
(b)	In determining whether to grant, modify, or terminate a protection order;
(c)	In determining the terms and conditions of a protection order;
(d)	In determining the penalty for violation of a protection order;
(e)	When parties do not have the capacity to mediate upon screening.
Mediation shall not be prohibited in a subsequent custody case, even though the case may result in the termination of the provisions of a protection order issued pursuant to §2151.34 and §3113.31 of the Ohio Revised Code.
35.04	Referrals to Mediation
The Judge or Magistrate may refer a case to mediation at any time. A party may request to participate in mediation by filing a motion or joint motion with the court, or by making an oral request for a referral to mediation on the record. The assignment clerk may refer cases involving shared parenting, companionship time, and custody cases when it appears the parties are amenable to mediation.
35.05	Procedure for Mediation
(A)	Notice of Hearings
Notice of the mediation hearing shall, at a minimum, state the date, time, place and contact information. Participants will be contacted by mail or by phone or other medium when necessary.
(B)	Attendance, Participation and Conduct of Proceedings
A mediator may meet with the parties individually prior to bringing the parties together for any reason. The mediator may schedule multiple mediation sessions for resolution of the issues. The mediator should screen for domestic violence both before and during mediation.
Each party shall attend the mediation session in person, unless otherwise directed by the mediator. Each party may have a support person accompany the party to mediation. Each party shall be prepared to negotiate an agreement as to any or all issues. The Court will notify the parties of their right to have counsel present for mediation and their right to waive presence of legal counsel, which may be rescinded at any time. The mediator shall inform each party of their right to continue the mediation to consult counsel or to terminate the mediation.
To ensure prompt resolution of any issues in dispute, the mediator shall have the duty and authority to set the time for all mediation sessions, including private meetings between the mediator and each party, provided that a party may object to meeting with the mediator without counsel present. The mediator shall have the authority to establish a deadline for the parties to act upon a proposed settlement. The mediator shall control all procedural aspects of the mediation not otherwise set by the court.
If an agreement is reached, the mediator shall inform each party the agreement has no binding effect until it is adopted by the Court, and that either party may withdraw from the agreement prior to the court’s approval of the agreement. The parties may request to place their agreement on the record immediately following the mediation.
If the mediator determines at any time that mediation should be discontinued, the mediator may terminate the proceeding and refer the matter back to the court.
(C)	Counsel
A party is entitled to have their respective counsel present for the mediation sessions.
A party who is not represented by counsel shall attend mediation only if they have waived the right to counsel in open court. Parties represented by counsel may attend mediation without counsel only where the right to have counsel present at the mediation has been specifically waived. Parties waiving counsel at mediation must fill out and sign a “Waiver of Counsel at Mediation” form prior to participation in mediation. Waivers may be rescinded at any time.
(D)	Continuances
Scheduled mediations may be continued only for good cause after a mutually acceptable future date has been determined. The case may be continued by the Judge, Magistrate, Mediator or a party. All requests for continuances by a party shall be in writing and filed no later than 10 days prior to the scheduled mediation date.
If a party fails to attend a mediation proceeding without good cause, the court may impose sanctions which may include but are not limited to, the award of attorney fees and other costs, contempt or other appropriate sanctions at the discretion of the Judge or Magistrate.
The Court may impose upon the parties fees and costs for mediation. If there is a fee for mediation, unless otherwise agreed by the parties or order of the Court, the fees shall be shared equally. The court may waive fees and costs for an indigent party.
(G)	Stay of Proceedings
No court order is stayed or suspended during the mediation process except by written court order. Mediation will not stay discovery, which may continue through the mediation process unless agreed upon by the parties and approved by the Judge or Magistrate assigned to the case. All court orders continue in effect.
(H)	Mediator Conflict of Interest
A mediator shall avoid any actual or apparent conflicts of interest arising from any relationship or activity, including but not limited to those of employment or business or from professional or personal contacts with parties or others involved in the dispute. A mediator shall avoid self-dealing or association from which the mediator might directly or indirectly benefit, except from compensation for services as a mediator.
The mediator conducting a mediation session shall disclose to the mediation parties, counsel, if applicable, and any non-party participants any known possible conflicts that may affect the mediator’s impartiality as soon as such conflict(s) become known to the mediator. If counsel or a mediation party requests that the mediator withdraw because of the facts so disclosed, the mediator may withdraw in favor of another mediator. If the mediator determines that withdrawal is not warranted, the mediator may elect to continue. The objecting party may then request the judge to remove the mediator. The judge may remove the mediator and appoint another mediator. If the judge decides that the objection is unwarranted the mediator shall proceed as scheduled, or, if delay was necessary, as soon after the scheduled date as possible.
The requirements of this rule are in addition to and do not supersede the requirements of R.C.§2710.08. Wherever a conflict exists between this rule and R.C.§2710.08, the statute shall control.
(I)	Domestic Violence and/or Fear of Violence
All parties, via the mediation referral sheet, and counsel shall advise the judge or magistrate of any domestic violence allegations known to them to exist or to have existed in the past, or which become known to them following the referral to mediation.
Mediation may proceed, when violence or fear of violence is alleged, suspected, or present, only if all the following conditions are satisfied:
(a)	The person who is or may be the victim of domestic violence is fully informed, both orally and in writing, about the mediation process, the right to decline participation in the mediation process, and the option to have a support person in addition to an attorney, present at mediation sessions.
(b)	The parties have the capacity to mediate without fear of coercion or control.
(c)	Appropriate procedures are in place to provide for the safety of the person who is or may be the victim of domestic violence and all other persons present at the mediation.
(d)	Procedures are in place for the mediator to terminate mediation if he or she believes there is continued threat of domestic violence or coercion between the parties.
(e)	Procedures are in place for issuing written Findings of Fact, as required by R.C.§3109.052, to refer certain cases involving domestic violence to mediation.
(J)	Referral to Resources
All mediation communications related to or made during the mediation process are subject to and governed by the Uniform Mediation Act. Mediation communications are confidential, and no one shall disclose any of these communications unless all parties and the mediator consent to disclosure. This court may impose penalties for any improper disclosures made in violation of this rule. Disputes regarding confidentiality should first be addressed with the mediator where possible.
By participating in mediation, a nonparty participant, as defined by R.C.§2710.01(D), submits to the Court’s jurisdiction to the extent necessary for enforcement of this rule. Any nonparty participant shall have the rights and duties under this rule as are attributed to parties, except that no evidence privilege shall be expanded.
All mediation communications are confidential with the following exceptions:
(i) Parties may share all mediation communications with their attorneys;
(ii) Certain threats of abuse or neglect of a child or an adult;
(iii) Statements made during the mediation process to plan or hide an ongoing crime;
(iv) Statements made during the mediation process that reveal a felony.
35.06	Abuse, Neglect and Dependency Mediation
Mediation in child abuse, neglect, or dependency cases shall comply with all provisions outlined above in Section 35.05 of this Rule.
All unrepresented parties shall attend mediation unless a party has provided a written waiver of their right to counsel in open court. The written waiver must contain a notice in bold print that the waiver may be withdrawn at any time. All parties represented by counsel shall attend with counsel unless their right to have counsel present has been specifically waived. A waiver may be rescinded at any time.
35.07	Responsibility of Mediator
In order to provide a fair mediation process for parties, a mediator shall remain impartial and neutral and shall comply with all of the following:
(1)	The “Core Values of Mediation,” as approved by the Supreme Court Dispute Resolution Section in accordance with recommendations established by the Commission on Dispute Resolution;
(2)	The “Model Standards of Conduct for Mediators” adopted by the American Bar Association, American Arbitration Association, and the Association for Conflict Resolution;
(3)	The “Model Standards of Practice for Family and Divorce Mediation” adopted by the Association for Family and Conciliation Courts;
(4)	The “Guidelines for Child Protection Mediation” adopted by the Association for Family and Conciliation Courts.
(B)	Legal Advice
A mediator shall not offer legal advice.
(C)	Satisfaction of Training Requirements
(1)	A mediator shall meet the qualifications and comply with all training requirements of Sup.R.16.23 and local court rules governing mediators and mediation adopted in Clermont County Juvenile Court Local Rule 35.
(2)	A mediator shall meet the qualifications for mediators and promptly advise the court of any grounds for disqualification or any issues affecting the ability to serve.
(3)	Upon request, a mediator shall provide the court documentation indicating compliance with all training and education requirements so that the court may meet the requirements of Sup.R.16.24(A)(1)(d). The documentation shall include information detailing the date, location, contents, credit hours, and sponsor of any relevant training.
35.07	Mediator Training and Education
(A)	Training
(1)	A mediator shall complete “Fundamentals of Mediation Training” approved by the Supreme Court Dispute Resolution Section in accordance with standards established by the Commission on Dispute Resolution.
(2)	A mediator shall not be required to complete training pursuant to division (A)(1) of this rule if any of the following apply:
(a)	Prior to January 1, 2020, the mediator has completed at least twelve hours of basic mediation training;
(b)	Prior to January 1, 2020, the mediator has served as a full-	time mediator for a minimum of three years or mediated at least forty-five cases, in which case the mediator shall complete the “Advanced Mediation Workshop” approved by the Supreme Court Dispute Resolution Section in accordance with standards established by the Commission on Dispute Resolution;
(c)	The mediator is a law student enrolled in a clinical mediation or dispute resolution program at an American Bar Association accredited law school, has completed mandatory coursework in fundamental mediation topics, and mediates under the supervision of faculty at the law school.
(1)	Prior to accepting a referral from a court for disputes involving the termination of marriage; the allocation of parental rights and responsibilities; the care of or visitation with minor children; unruly and delinquency cases; or juvenile civil protection order cases pursuant to
R.C.§2151.34 or R.C.§3113.31, a mediator shall meet all of the following qualifications.
(a)	Possess a bachelor’s degree, or equivalent educational experience as is satisfactory to the court, and at least two years of professional experience with families, including counseling, casework, legal representation in family law matters, or such other equivalent experience satisfactory to the court.
(b)	Comply with the requirements of division (A) of this rule;
(c)	Complete “Specialized Family or Divorce Mediation Training” approved by the Supreme Court Dispute Resolution Section in accordance with standards established by the Commission on Dispute Resolution, provided that a mediator who is mediating a delinquency or unruly case may do so even if the mediator has not taken this training;
(d)	Complete “Specialized Domestic Abuse Issues and Mediation Training” approved by the Supreme Court Dispute Resolution Section in accordance with standards established by the Commission on Dispute Resolution unless either of the following apply:
(i)	The mediator is co-mediating with another mediator who has completed the training;	(ii)	The mediator is a law student enrolled in a clinical mediation or dispute resolution program at an American Bar Association accredited law school, has completed mandatory coursework in fundamental and domestic abuse mediation topics, and mediates under the supervision of faculty at the law school who has completed the training;
(2)	Prior to accepting a referral for disputes involving abuse, neglect, and dependency, a mediator shall meet all of the following qualifications:
(a)	Possess significant experience mediating family disputes;
(b)	Complete the requirements of division (B)(1) of this rule;
(c)	Complete “Specialized Child Protection Mediation Training” approved by the Supreme Court Dispute Resolution Section in accordance with standards established by the Commission on Dispute Resolution.
3.	Prior to accepting a referral for dispute involving school attendance mediation, a mediator shall meet either of the following qualifications:
(a)	Complete the requirements of division (A) of this rule;
(b)	Complete “School Attendance Mediation Training” approved by the Supreme Court Dispute Resolution Section in accordance with standards established by the Commission on Dispute Resolution.
35.08	Public Access
The files maintained by a mediator but not filed with a clerk or submitted to a court shall not be available for public access pursuant to Sup.R.44 through 47.