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florida state courts

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  • Alternative Dispute Resolution Banner

    Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) has been utilized by the Florida Court System to resolve disputes for over 25 years, starting with the creation of the first citizen dispute settlement (CDS) center in Dade County in 1975. Since that time, the uses of mediation and arbitration have grown as the Legislature and judiciary have created one of the most comprehensive court-connected mediation programs in the country.
    Read More about the Alternative Dispute Resolution Center...

    PLEASE COMMENT

    The Supreme Court Alternative Dispute Resolution Rules and Policy Committee is seeking comment on a proposed change to the Rules for Certified and Court-Appointed Mediators. Please review the explanation below along with the proposed change and submit your comments by November 2, 2009 to drcmail@flcourts.org, attn: rule comments

    Rule 10.130 Notification of Conviction

    The Florida Rules for Certified and Court-Appointed Mediators require all persons certified as mediators must be of good moral character. Consistent with this requirement, applicants for mediator certification and renewal have long been asked to disclose convictions of felonies and first degree misdemeanors. Disclosure has similarly been required of applicants who may previously have entered no contest pleas to felony and first degree misdemeanor charges, even if adjudication of guilt has been withheld.

    In order to provide a more thorough review of good moral character issues, the Alternative Dispute Resolution Rules and Policy Committee agreed, in March 2007, to modify forms for application and renewal of mediator certification. The forms were thereafter revised in a manner requiring applicants also disclose convictions of second degree misdemeanors involving dishonesty or false statement

    Under the current rules, however, the definition of “conviction” is silent with respect to second degree misdemeanors involving dishonesty or false statement. As a result, failed disclosure of matters otherwise raising questions regarding an applicant’s good moral character may evade consideration. The draft proposed revision clarifies the definition of “conviction” by including second degree misdemeanors involving dishonesty or false statement and further restructuring the rule in a manner more clearly identifying the broad scope of determinations qualifying as convictions.

    Please review the Proposed Rule 10.130 Notification of Conviction Draft and submit comments by November 2, 2009 to drcmail@flcourts.org attn: rule comments

    NEW RELEASE

    Governor Proclaims Mediation Week!
    Mediation Week Proclamation

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    Chief Justice adopted new Mediation Training Standards and Procedures on July 24, 2009
    Administrative Order SC09-34

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    RESIDENTIAL MORTGAGE FORECLOSURE SURVEYS

    The final report is completed. You may view it at the Supreme Court's website. The Residential Mortgage Foreclosure Task Force would like to thank everyone who participated in our recent surveys.

    Petitions to amend Rules for Certified and Court-Appointed Mediators currently before the Supreme Court:

    Appellate Mediation SC09-118 In Re: Amendments to Florida Rules of Appellate Procedure and the Florida Rules for Certified and Court-Appointed Mediators
    Appendix A
    Appendix B
    Appendix C
    Appendix D
    Appendix E
    Appendix F
    Appendix G
    Comments (Appellate Court Rules Committee)
    Appendix A

    Advertising SC09-1384 In Re: Amendments to the Florida Rules for Certified and Court-Appointed Mediators
    Appendix A
    Appendix B
    Appendix C
    Appendix D
    Appendix E
    Appendix F
    Appendix G

     


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    Now Available:

    ADR in Florida's Trial Courts - Performance and Accountability Report

    2009 Resource Handbook includes the following:

    2006 Compendium

    Contains statistics and descriptions of court-connected ADR programs; contact information for court ADR programs, Supreme Court ADR committees and boards. The latest 2007 edition is available in hard copy. Please see the order form below for more information.

    Ordering Information

    If you would like to order a copy of the Resource Handbook, Compendium, or any other DRC material. Please complete the order form and mail along with payment to the Dispute Resolution Center.

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