https://www.mass.gov/supreme-judicial-court-rules/supreme-judicial-court-rule-118-uniform-rules-on-dispute-resolution

Rule 1(a) states that "these rules govern court-connected dispute resolution services provided in civil and criminal cases in every department of the Trial Court. The Ethical Standards in Rule 9 also apply to neutrals who provide court-connected dispute resolution services in the Supreme Judicial Court and the Appeals Court." The rules lay out the guiding principles of the provision of dispute resolution services in Massachusetts courts; they include the provision of quality services, adherence to ethical standards, accessibility to all members of the public, informed choice for participants of provider and service, self-determination for participants during the dispute resolution process, the timely provision of services, provision of services by qualified neutrals, and the creation of dispute resolution systems that reflect the diverse needs and backgrounds of the people they serve.

The rules also review the administrative structure for the judiciary's dispute resolution services, both at the state level and the trial court level. In addition, the rules describe the procedures trial court must follow when creating a dispute resolution program. The rules also include qualifications and ethics standards for neutrals involved in court programs. The qualifications standards include training and other requirements for mediators, arbitrators, conciliators, case evaluators, mini-trial neutrals, summary jury trial neutrals and dispute intervention neutrals.