N.D. Sup. Ct. Admin. Orders
Administrative Order 17 - FAMILY MEDIATION PILOT PROJECT
SECTION 1. PURPOSE
The purpose of this order is to establish a Family Mediation Pilot Project. The mission of the Project is to explore a procedure to provide a high quality, impartial, and efficient forum for resolving disputed parental rights and responsibilities matters through mediation. The goal of the Project is to improve the lives of families and children who appear before the court by trying to resolve parental rights and responsibilities disputes through mediation in order to minimize family conflict, encourage shared decision-making, and support healthy relationships and communication among family members.
SECTION 2. SCOPE
This order governs mediation in parental rights and responsibilities disputes in the district courts. To the extent the requirements of N.D.R.Civ.P. 16(b) and N.D.R.Ct. 8.3(b) conflict with this order, this order's provisions control. The N.D.R.Ct. 8.8 alternative dispute resolution statement requirement is satisfied by compliance with this order.
SECTION 3. IN GENERAL
(A) District courts must offer mediation in cases in which there is a dispute or an unresolved issue regarding parental rights and responsibilities or relocation, except as provided in this rule.
(B) The Supreme Court will fund the Project mediation orientation and mediation sessions as provided in this order.
(C) The Project administrator shall
will manage and oversee the Project as directed by the
Chief Justice and the State Court Administrator.
(D) Mediators will be selected for the Project roster by the Project Administrator.
(E) The protocol referenced in this order shall
will be developed by the Project
Administrator and filed with the Clerk of the Supreme Court.
(F) Counsel for represented parties may participate in mediation proceedings.
SECTION 4. DEFINITION
"Mediation" is a process in which a
non-judicial nonjudicial neutral mediator facilitates
communication between parties to assist the parties in reaching voluntary decisions related
to their dispute. A case evaluation or settlement conference under N.D.R.Civ.P. 16 is not
"mediation" under this order.
SECTION 5. QUALIFYING CASES
(A) Except as provided in Section 5 (B), within
10 14 days of filing, any proceeding for a
divorce, separation, paternity, or guardianship in which parental rights and responsibilities
or relocation is an issue, must be referred by the clerk to the Project Administrator.
(B) If the court decides that a prima facie case under N.D.C.C. § 14-09-06.6 has been established and that mediation may be useful to the parties and the children, a post-judgment motion for parental rights and responsibilities modification may be referred by the clerk to the Project Administrator.
SECTION 6. EXCLUDED CASES
(A) The clerk may not refer proceedings:
(1) if the parties started mediating prior to commencement of the Project;
(2) if the parental rights and responsibilities issues are stipulated by the parties at the time of filing; or
(3) if a current domestic violence protection order or other order for protection between the parties exists.
(B) In a case in which an order for protection exists, the court may require mediation if:
(1) mediation is requested by the victim of the domestic violence or sexual abuse, and an exception to the order of protection is made by the court;
(2) mediation is provided by a mediator trained to address the needs and safety of victims where domestic violence is at issue;
(3) the victim of domestic violence is provided the opportunity for separate meetings with the mediator during the mediation, and to mediate using separate rooms if they choose;
(4) mediation takes place in a courthouse or other building where
security measures are in
place; and or
(5) the victim has an advocate or support person of his or her choice in the mediation.
SECTION 7. COURT REFERRAL
In addition to the clerk referrals, a district judge or referee assigned to a parental rights and responsibilities proceeding may at any time refer a case to family mediation, except as prohibited by this or any other rule or statute.
SECTION 8. MEDIATION PROCEDURE
(A) When the clerk refers a case, the Project Administrator
shall must assign a mediator and
prepare an order and schedule for mediation for approval by the assigned judge.
(B) The Program Administrator shall
must send the approved order to the parties, their
attorneys, and the mediator.
(C) The order must set time limits for the mediation as follows:
(1) the parties must contact the mediator and attend a pre-mediation
orientation separately
within 20 21 days of the date of the order;
and
(2) the mediation sessions must be completed within 90 days of the date of the order.
(D) The parties and mediator must submit any request to deviate from the order's time limits in writing to the judge presiding over the case, who may allow a time extension for good cause.
(E) If a party fails to appear for orientation or mediation sessions, the
mediator shall must
promptly notify the Project Administrator. The Administrator may report the violation to the
judge presiding over the case, who may order the party to show cause for failure to appear.
SECTION 9. PRE-MEDIATION ORIENTATION
(A) All parties in parental rights and responsibilities disputes must receive a mediation orientation session. The assigned mediator must provide the orientation sessions to the parties separately in a way that best meets the needs of the parties.
(B) At the orientation session, the mediator
shall must inform the parties:
(1) what mediation is and is not;
(2) what to expect from the mediator;
(3) what the goals are for mediation;
(4) any guidelines necessary to have constructive conversations;
(5) how to prepare for the mediation process;
(6) the role of the court, lawyers, and other experts;
(7) how fee payment works;
(8) the time line for mediation; and
(9) any other relevant information or requirements.
SECTION 10. SELECTION OF MEDIATORS
(A) Family Mediation Project mediators must meet the criteria set
forth in the Pilot Project
protocol. Mediators may apply to be placed on the roster of family mediators under Rule 8.9.
Mediators must follow Rule 8.9's the policies and procedures
under Rule 8.9 and they must
carry malpractice insurance that covers their mediation practice.
(B) Mediators may be assigned cases by the Project Administrator and must manage cases assigned to them from orientation and screening through conclusion of mediation.
(C) A mediator may not be removed unless the mediator or the parties petition the Project Administrator. Parties may not request a change of mediator unless they present evidence of bias or conflict of interest as described in the ethical guidelines provided in the Family Mediation Project protocol.
(D) All mediators must follow the standards of practice set forth in the protocol. Any violation of the standards must be reported to the Project Administrator.
SECTION 11. CONFIDENTIALITY
Mediators may not discuss or reveal the details of any mediation proceeding or any information provided by a party in a mediation proceeding to any judge, magistrate, or third party.
SECTION 12. PAYMENT FOR MEDIATION
(A) If a case is referred to the Project Administrator, a pre-mediation orientation and screening with a mediator, and at least one mediation session must be provided.
(B) The mediator shall will be
compensated at a rate established by the Supreme Court.
(C) The parties must be allowed up to 6
six hours of mediator services without charge. The
parties may purchase additional mediation sessions at a rate established by the Supreme
Court.
(D) Parties may request additional mediation sessions and may apply for a fee waiver or sliding scale fee as established by the protocol. If, based on economic factors, the parties qualify for a fee reduction, and additional sessions are approved, the Supreme Court will pay the mediator any difference between the established fee rate and the parties' reduced or waived fee.
SECTION 13. PILOT PROJECT EVALUATION
All mediators and parties shall must
cooperate with the research and evaluation protocol
to help measure the impact and success of the Project. This may include providing written
comments, participating in a personal interview, and allowing occasional observation during
mediation if the parties approve, as provided in the protocol.
SECTION 14. CONCLUDING MEDIATION
(A) The mediator must notify the Project Administrator when the mediation has concluded for any reason, and advise the judge presiding over the case of one of the following outcomes:
(1) agreement has been reached in whole or part; or
(2) the parties were unable to reach agreement.
(B) If the parties reach agreement, the mediator and parties will prepare a written summary for the parties to sign noting all agreements made and using the parties' own words. A copy of the signed summary must be given to each party.
(C) The parties have five business
seven days from signing to reconsider the decisions made
in mediation. If neither party sends a written request to reconsider to the mediator within
five
business seven days, the mediator shall
must send a copy of the written summary to the
parties and their attorneys, and file the mediation closing form with the clerk of court with
a copy to the judge presiding over the case.
(D) At the close of the case the mediator and the parties must
complete the required
evaluation forms. The mediator shall must submit the forms to
the Project Administrator
along with a copy of the closing form, mediator's log, and the mediator's invoice. The
mediator is responsible for collecting fees from the parties if for additional mediation
sessions not paid by the court.
SECTION 15. EFFECTIVE DATE
This order is amended effective September 1, 2010, and remains in effect until further order of the Court.
EXPLANATORY NOTE
Order 17 was adopted effective March 1, 2008. Amended, effective September 1, 2010; March 1, 2011.
Section 5(A) was amended, effective March 1, 2011, to increase the time for a clerk to refer a proceeding to the Project Administrator from 10 to 14 days after filing.
Section 8(C)(1) was amended, effective March 1, 2011, to increase the time to attend a pre-mediation orientation from 20 to 21 days.
Section 14(C) was amended, effective March 1, 2011, to change the time to reconsider the decisions made in mediation from five business days to seven days after signing the agreement.
Sources: Joint Procedure Committee Minutes of April 29-30, 2010, page 21.