Alabama Supreme Court Commission on Dispute Resolution
Recognizing the need for an authoritative and permanent body to oversee the development of ADR in our state, the Alabama State Bar, and the State Court Circuit and District Judges Associations petitioned the Alabama Supreme Court to develop such an entity. As a result, the Alabama Supreme Court created, by order effective July 1,1994, the Supreme Court Commission on Dispute Resolution.
The commission is charged by the Supreme Court with numerous responsibilities a few of which are:
- Instituting necessary guidelines for the orderly progress of alternative dispute resolution programs and procedures in the state court system.
- Providing technical assistance, education and training to the bar, the judiciary and the public.
- Developing training procedures, qualification criteria, standards of conduct and utilization standards for mediators and other alternative dispute resolution neutrals.
The commission oversees the operations of the Center of Dispute Resolution and serves as a focal point for the supervision, coordination and implementation of the broad development of ADR in Alabama, both in the state court system and the public at large. Within the latter context, the commission assists in the development of, for example, neighborhood dispute resolution projects and school conflict management programs. The commission also works closely with Administrative Office of Courts and the state bar committee on ADR in many areas involving ADR studies.
Our commission has a firm commitment to developing in Alabama a full-scale alternative dispute resolution program, and one which eventually will become a model for other states.