Peacemaker Ministries has posted this year’s training at their website. The mission of the Ministry is to equip Christians and their churches to repond to conflict Biblically. If you are interested, please use the link, below.
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Though the focus of this short article by president and CEO of the American Aribtration Association, William K. Slate II, is mostly arbitration, many of the issues apply to the future of mediaiton as well. Experienced-based innovation, and suitability to adapting new technology are two of the possible pluses. For more: http://www.law.com/jsp/nlj/PubArticleNLJ.jsp?id=1202535040657 Registration is now open for the Section of Dispute Resolution 14th Annual Spring Conference on Capitol Hill in Washington, D.C., April 18-21st.
In celebration of Mediation Week, both in Alabama and nationally with the American Bar Association, the ADR Section of the Birmingham Bar Association sponsored the breakfast to thank lawyers who regularly donate their time to the Jefferson County District Court Volunteer Mediation Program. October 21, 2011, was Mediation Day in Alabama by proclamation of Governor Bentley. Pictured here are District Judge Jack Lowther, Circuit Judge Virginia Vinson, Circuit Judge Laura Petro, District Judge Bobby Bynon and Circuit Judge Tommy Nail.
Mike Ford, Esq., mediator in Florence, Alabama, reports on the Lauderdale County Mediation Project. The Mediation Project was the brainchild of Circuit Judge Gil Self, and heartily endorsed by Judge Mike Jones. These judges handle most of the civil jury cases. They appointed me to be “mediation coordinator” which means I match up the litigants with the mediators I think would be best for their cases. Three of our jury terms were cancelled this year for lack of funds, and these vacated jury terms are now our mediation weeks. I have scheduled 17 mediations for the December mediation week, using 9 area mediators. I ask the mediators and litigants to start the mediation sessions in the courtrooms, but that is just my effort to impress upon them that this is a court “sponsored” program. Some mediations are pro bono, but I ask the parties to pay the mediators $750 in most cases. I used the number from the Florida foreclosure mediation program. These are cases that have resisted settlement efforts and are headed for trial. When we settle one of them, I feel like we have accomplished something! Kimberly Schreiber, Esq. of Eldercare Resolved, LLC, Gallatin, TN and fellow trainers will be in Mobile, Alabama this December to present a three day Elder Mediation training–the first one in Alabama. According to Kimberly, “Elder mediation training guides the participants to think abouy the complexities of elder law and elder mediation by helping them develop skills and specific strategies for working with large, complex groups.” This training provides an overview of legal planning, challenges of aging, family dynamics, and gives resources for attorneys and mediators to give to their clients. Alabama CLE credit. For more information contact Kimberly Schreiber, Esq. 615-681-7585 Mediation week has begun, and Governor Robert Bentley has declared by proclamation October 21st as Mediation Day in Alabama. Thanks to the Governor’s Legal Advisor, Cooper Shattuck, for making this happen. The Alabama Center for Dispute Resolution and the Appellate Mediation Office are hosting appellate mediation training on the 21st at the Alabama State Bar. Gary Canner, Esq., 11th Circuit Mediator, Retired, will be the appellate trainer. Joining him are Rebecca Oates, Assistant Clerk of the Court of Civil Appeals who administers that Court’s appellate mediation program; Celeste Sabel, Esq., Senior Staff Attorney for the Supreme Court of Alabama and appellate mediation administrator; and Michelle Ohme, the Program Coordinator for the Alabama Appellate Mediation Program. Chief Justice Charles R. Malone of the Supreme Cour of Alabama, and William C. Thompson, Presiding Judge of the Alabama Court of Civil Appeals will make remarks. A panel of distinguished appellate mediators will join the 25 participants for lunch and discussion: Hon. Arthur J. Hanes, Jr., Upchurch, Watson, White & Max, Birmingham; Justice R. Bernard Harwood, Jr., Rosen Harwood, PA, Tuscaloosa; and Debra Black Leo, Esq., Supervisory ADR Coordinator, U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, Birmingham. Mediators who mediate this week will ask those for whom they mediate to take a mediation effectiveness survey as part of a state-wide initiative by the Alabama Supreme Court Commission on Dispute Resolution (www.alabamaadr.org). District court mediation program coordinators have also been asked to participate: Rob Stankoski, Fairhope; Lee Davis, Culllman; Cheryl Leatherwood, Ozark; Heather Boone, Selma; Vicki Bonner-Ward, Wetumpka; Kirk Garrett, Brewton; Steve Overby, Dothan; Read Haughery, Opelika; Margie Stellingwerf, Huntsville; Al Giles, Mobile; Kim Gully, Decatur; and Ken Dunham, professor for Jones School of Law Mediation Course and Clinic and his students will survey participants in Montgomery.  Al Jiles, Esq. Al Giles, Esq., who spent many hours getting the Mobile District Court Mediation Program up and running , as well as mediating for the program, was the 2011 Alabama State Bar Pro Bono Mediator Award winner. The award is presented each year by the Volunteer Lawyers Program of the Bar to a mediator who exceeds in pro bono mediation efforts. Al received the award at the Annual Bench & Bar Luncheon, Thursday, July 14, 2011 at the Grand Hotel, Point Clear, Alabama. He gave over 600 hours to the Mobile program. Congratulations, Al, and thank you for all your work! Mediation job well done. A couple links to material that might interest environmental mediators: The Udall Foundation: http://www.udall.gov/; U.S. Institute for Environmental Conflict Resolution: http://www.ecr.gov/ The Mediation Training Institute International once again is offering its Mediation at Sea Cruise to the Caribbean–Cozumel, Costa Maya, Belize City and Roatan–leaving from New Orleans. To find out more about dates, ship, etc. go to http://www.mediationworks.com/mti/cruise2011/ |
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Copyright © 2012 Alabama ADR News - Alabama Center for Dispute Resolution - All Rights Reserved |
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On Sunday, November 13, 2011, the Birmingham News featured a picture of Birmingham judges at a breakfast to thank volunteer mediators that serve the court. 