Georgia
Summary
The following summarizes statewide court ADR rules and policies. For ADR in a local jurisdiction, see the local court’s website.
Note: This is a summary of state court ADR in Georgia. Authority for federal court ADR is found in the Alternative Dispute Resolution Act of 1998. Information on federal court ADR rules and procedures can be found on each court’s website. Any studies or evaluations involving federal court ADR in Georgia can be found in RSI’s Research Library and in Reports below.
State Legislation
- Georgia Code: 15-23: Court-Connected Alternative Dispute Resolution Act
- Georgia Code: 15-11-37: Juvenile Court Supervision Fee
- Georgia Code: 19-7-5: Reporting of Child Abuse
- Georgia Code: 19-9-1.1: Parental agreements to binding arbitration on issue of child custody and related matters
Statewide Court ADR Rules and Policies
- Georgia State Courts Alternative Dispute Resolution Rules
- Georgia Commission on Dispute Resolution Appendix A: Uniform Rules for Dispute Resolution Programs
- Georiga Commission on Dispute Resolution Appendix B: Requirements for Qualification and Training of Neutrals
- Georgia Commission on Dispute Resolution Appendix C, Chapter 1: Ethical Standards for Neutrals
- Georgia Commission on Dispute Resolution Appendix C, Chapter 2: Ethics Procedures
- Georgia Commission on Dispute Resolution Model Court Mediation Rules
- Georgia Commission on Dispute Resolution Model Juvenile Court Mediation Rules
- Georgia Commission on Dispute Resolution: Rules for Mediation in Cases Involving Issues of Domestic Violence
- Georiga Commission on Dispute Resolution Guidelines on Child Abuse Reporting
State Office of Court ADR:
Statutes
Civil Justice Reform Act of 1990
U.S. Congress. Dec. 1, 1990; amended Dec. 9, 2001Resource Type: Legislation
Abstract: With this bill, each United States district court is required to develop a civil justice expense and delay reduction plan. As part of this plan, the act authorizes district courts to refer appropriate cases to designated ADR programs. The act also re...
Alternative Dispute Resolution Act of 1998
U.S. House of Representatives Office of the Law Revision Counsel. United States Code, Oct. 1, 1998Resource Type: Legislation
Abstract: This act authorizes each United States District Court to require litigants in all civil cases to consider the use of ADR process. It provides the framework by which each district court should promulgate procedures and rules regarding the ADR process ...
Georgia Code 19-9-1.1 - Parental agreement to binding arbitration on issue of child custody and related matters
The State of Georgia. Jan. 1, 2019Resource Type: Legislation
Abstract: This article states that parents may enter into binding arbitration over matters of child custody, parenting time and parenting plans. Parents choose both the issues to be addressed in the arbitration and the arbiter, and if all issues are not addres...
Georgia Code: 15-23: Court-Connected Alternative Dispute Resolution Act
Georgia General Assembly. Jul. 1, 2014Resource Type: Legislation
Abstract: This act explains the process of the court-connected ADR program in Georgia. It includes sections on board of trustees of county fund for the administration of Alternative Dispute Resolution Programs, the powers and duties of these boards, collection...
Georgia Code: 15-11-37: Juvenile Court Supervision Fee
Georgia General Assembly. Jan. 1, 2014Resource Type: Legislation
Abstract: Section 15-11-37 of this statute grants courts the ability to collect supervision fees for a wide variety of services including mediation and community services. ...
Georgia Code: 19-7-5: Reporting of Child Abuse
Georgia General Assembly. Sep. 1, 2013Resource Type: Legislation
Abstract: Georgia Statute 19-7-5 permits court personnel who report suspected child abuse to be immune from any civil or criminal liability. ...
Rules
Georgia Commission on Dispute Resolution: Rules for Mediation in Cases Involving Issues of Domestic Violence
Georgia Commission on Dispute Resolution . Jan. 1, 2019Resource Type: Rules - Court
Abstract: These rules were developed as a collaboration between the Georgia Commission on Dispute Resolution and the Georiga Commission on Family Violence and focus on updating rules for mediating cases with domestic violence. The modifications to the rules br...
Georgia State Courts Alternative Dispute Resolution Rules
Georgia Commission on Alternative Dispute Resolution. Jan. 1, 2019Resource Type: Rules - Court
Abstract: These rules on ADR were developed by the Georgia Commission on Alternative Dispute Resolution. They explain the functions and duties of the Georgia Commission on ADR as the central organization on ADR in Georgia, funding of court-annexed and court-re...
Georgia Commission on Dispute Resolution Model Juvenile Court Mediation Rules
Georgia Commission on Dispute Resolution. Aug. 1, 2015Resource Type: Rules - Court
Abstract: These rules provide guidance to court ADR programs and parties regarding the resolution of delinquent and dependency matters that are referred to mediation. ...
Georgia Commission on Dispute Resolution Alternative Dispute Resolution Rules, Appendix B: Requirements for Qualification and Training of Neutrals
Georgia Commission on Dispute Resolution. May. 1, 2014Resource Type: Rules - Court
Abstract: This document contains the qualifications and the training required for neutrals serving in mediation, arbitration, case evaluation, or early neutral evaluation court programs in Georgia. The document also addresses the registration of neutrals, the ...
Georgia Commission on Dispute Resolution Appendix C, Chapter 2: Ethics Procedures
Georgia Commission on Dispute Resolution. Jun. 1, 2013Resource Type: Rules - Court
Abstract: These ethics procedures put forth the steps for handling questions of a neutral's fitness that involve the neutral's character or alleged unethical conduct. ...
Georgia Commission on Dispute Resolution Appendix C, Chapter 1: Ethical Standards for Neutrals
Georgia Commission on Dispute Resolution. Jun. 1, 2013Resource Type: Rules - Court
Abstract: This appendix establishes a code of ethical behavior for mediators in court programs in Georgia. These standards focus on three fundamental promises a mediator makes to parties in explaining the process: 1) the mediator will protect the self-determin...
Georgia Commission on Dispute Resolution Appendix A: Uniform Rules for Dispute Resolution Programs
Georgia Commission on Dispute Resolution. Jun. 1, 2013Resource Type: Rules - Court
Abstract: This document outlines and describes the uniform rules for ADR processes created by the Georgia Supreme Court. These rules address: the guidelines for the referral of cases to ADR; the exceptions from referral; the appearance of parties, attorneys, a...
Georgia Commission on Dispute Resolution Model Court Mediation Rules
Georgia Commission on Dispute Resolution. Jan. 18, 2005Resource Type: Rules - Court
Abstract: These model rules provide a definition of mediation and address referral to mediation, the timing of the referral, case screening, mediator appointment, compensation of the mediator, confidentiality, liability of the mediator, sanctions for failure t...
Georgia Commission on Dispute Resolution Guidelines on Child Abuse Reporting
Georgia Commission on Dispute Resolution . Sep. 1, 1996Resource Type: Rules - Court
Abstract: These guidelines set forth how mediators can report on suspected child abuse. these guidelines dictate that mediators should report directly to an agency designed by the Department of Human Resources, the police, or the district attorney. Additionall...
Reports
Georgia Commission on Dispute Resolution: The First 25 Years
Georgia Commission on Dispute Resolution. Dec. 1, 2018Resource Type: Report
Abstract: This report covers the history of the Georgia Commission on Dispute Resolution and the history of ADR in Georgia. It covers how ADR progressed in the Georgian courts and includes a timeline about the Commission on Dispute Resolution. ...
ADR in the Federal District Courts: An Initial Report
Stienstra, Donna. Nov. 1, 2011Resource Type: Report
Abstract: This report describes the use of ADR in the federal courts. Twelve years after the Alternative Dispute Resolution Act required federal courts to provide ADR services for all civil cases, every federal district court has authorized at least one form o...
An Analysis of Diversity Trainings in United States Community Mediation Centers
Warren, Naomi. Sep. 1, 2009Resource Type: Study
Abstract: In 2009, the Dispute Resolution Center in Ann Arbor, Michigan conducted a study in cooperation with the State Court Administrative Office of Michigan to analyze "diversity trainings at community mediation centers across the country" (p.2). The study ...
Georgia Office of Dispute Resolution FY 2006 Alternative Dispute Resolution Report
Georgia Office of Dispute Resolution. Sep. 30, 2008Resource Type: Report
Abstract: This report outlines alternative dispute resolution (ADR) programs in Georgia courts from July 2005 through June 2006, focusing on mediation, arbitration and early neutral evaluation. In fiscal year 2006, 34,649 cases were referred to ADR programs wi...
Georgia Office of Dispute Resolution FY 2005 Alternative Dispute Resolution Report
Georgia Office of Dispute Resolution. Jan. 1, 2005Resource Type: Report
Abstract: This report outlines alternative dispute resolution (ADR) programs in Georgia courts from July 2004 through June 2005, focusing on mediation, arbitration and early neutral evaluation. The report profiles neutrals in Georgia and lists ADR processes of...
Effectiveness of Access and Visitation Grant Programs
Department of Health and Human Services Office of Inspector General. Oct. 1, 2002Resource Type: Report
Abstract: This report is based on 254 cases from five states and analyzes the "extent to which the Access and Visitation Grants increased access rights, visitation, and child support payment compliance" (p.1) of noncustodial parents. Two sets of analysis - one...
Alternative Dispute Resolution in Civil Justice Systems
Hartley, Roger E.. LFB Scholarly Publishing LLC, Jan. 1, 2002Resource Type: Study
Resource Type: Mediation Efficacy Study
Abstract: This study examines how ADR programs interact with the civil justice system. To evaluate the impact of mediation, Hartley compared 1400 non-mediated cases to 627 mediated cases by examining court records and program files for data on referral rates, ...
Alternative Dispute Resolution in the Georgia Courts 1999-2000
Jan. 1, 1970Resource Type: Study
Abstract: This report provides details and statistics for all the court-connected ADR programs in Georgia. Information provided includes the method of collection of fees, types of processes offered, requirement of participation, the issues mediated, neutral se...
The Implementation of the Cobb County Magistrate Court Criminal Mediation Program and Its Effectiveness at Reducing the Number of Criminal Application Hearings Conducted
Davis, Angie T.. May. 1, 1999Resource Type: Report
Resource Type: Mediation Efficacy Study
Abstract: This report examines the effect of the Criminal Mediation Program on the number of Application Hearings. The Criminal Mediation Program was created to reduce backlog in the hearing process - cases in which a judge cannot determine if there is probabl...
Background Characteristics and Incentives of Mediators in Georgia: Exploring Differences in Public, Private, and Government Agency Mediators
Goettler, Dawn E.; Herram, Margaret S.; Gale, Jerry. Mediation Quarterly, Jan. 1, 1999Resource Type: Study
Abstract: This article describes the results of the initial study conducted by the Mediator Skills Project. The study explored the relationship between background characteristics and incentives of mediators who practice in public, private and government agency...
Mandatory Divorce Mediation: The Impact on the Courts
Eavenson, Pamela A.. May. 1, 1998Resource Type: Study
Resource Type: Mediation Efficacy Study
Abstract: This study looks specifically at the effect of a mandatory divorce mediation program in Cobb County, Georgia, on time to disposition and the number of cases returned for contempt charges or modification. The study compares cases in Cobb County to tho...
Cobb County Juvenile Court Mediation Evaluation
Stone, Sandra S.; Helms, William A.; Edgeworth, Pamela. State University of Georgia, Mar. 1, 1998Resource Type: Evaluation
Resource Type: Mediation Efficacy Study
Abstract: This comparative study examined juvenile court case records to compare rates of re-offense between 799 mediated juvenile cases and 1,045 non-mediated juvenile cases. The results of the study found that mediated cases took an average of 46.7 days to p...
A Comparative Analysis on the Benefits of Mediation in the Cobb County Superior Court
Slack, Linda. May. 1, 1996Resource Type: Evaluation
Resource Type: Mediation Efficacy Study
Abstract: This study examined the Cobb County, Georgia, civil mediation program in terms of time to disposition, court activity, and satisfaction of participants in mediation. A comparative study of cases that were closed before the mediation program was insti...
Effects of Different Dispute Resolution Methods on Women and Children After Divorce
Bohmer, Carol; Ray, Marilyn L.. Family Law Quarterly, Jun. 1, 1994Resource Type: Study
Resource Type: Mediation Efficacy Study
Abstract: The authors looked at the custody and financial outcomes of mediated cases in New York and Georgia and compared them to outcomes of attorney-negotiated and judicially assisted settlements. They found that because there were no child support guideline...
Contacts
Georgia Commission on Dispute Resolution
Georgia Commission on Dispute Resolution.Resource Type: Organization
Abstract: The Georgia Commission on Dispute Resolution manages court-connected alternative dispute resolution (ADR) programs throughout the state of Georgia and is appointed by the Georgia Supreme Court. The website provides information about Georgia statues, ...
State Bar of Georgia Dispute Resolution Section
Resource Type: Organization
Abstract: The Dispute Resolution Section of the State Bar of Georgia "facilitates and promotes alternative methods for resolving legal disputes, including negotiation, mediation, arbitration, early neutral evaluation and other mechanisms." It provides educatio...