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.