Alabama Dispute Resolution

The Alabama Center for Dispute Resolution, Inc. (the Center) is a non-profit corporation organized to “develop, implement, administer, assist, and manage alternative dispute resolution (ADR) programs in the courts, neighborhoods, educational facilities and government agencies within the State of Alabama.”

After receiving a start-up grant from the Alabama Law Foundation, the Center opened in August of 1994, with office space supplied by the Alabama State Bar. The Center operates under the supervision of the Alabama Supreme Court Commission on Dispute Resolution in conjunction with the Alabama State Bar Dispute Resolution Section. Read more about each:

Alabama Supreme Court Commission on Dispute Resolution
Alabama State Bar Dispute Resolution Section

Shortly after it opened, the Center became the 18th state office of dispute resolution to join the Council of Statewide Programs for Consensus Building and Problem Solving, a nation-wide network of state offices of dispute resolution that share information. As of October 1996, the Center was funded under the Alabama Supreme Court’s budget.

Contact the Center for any of the following:

• ADR information, brochures and materials,
• an application to be on the state court mediator roster,
• the names of mediators in a particular county,
• upcoming mediator or arbitrator training,
• mediator standards and ethics,
• to schedule an ADR program tailored to your audience’s needs, or
• for any of the functions enumerated above.

What Is Mediation?

Mediation is a quick and efficient way to resolve disputes. It allows you the opportunity to solve your own problems by encouraging effective solutions. In addition it allows:

• A chance to be heard
• A chance to develop new ways of thinking
• A chance for the parties to develop their own solutions

What Is A Mediator?

A mediator helps the people involved in a dispute talk with each other about the conflict so each party can better understand why the conflict exists. As the facts and circumstances concerning the dispute are brought into the open, the mediator works with the parties to help discover possible ways the conflict can be resolved.

The mediator manages the mediation session but does not decide what should be done to solve the problem. The people involved in the dispute decide for themselves what actions will occur, time frames, and other important details. The agreement is written by the mediator with the help of the parties, and is signed by all parties to the dispute.

Our state court roster contains the names of Mediators who have met the Mediation Registration Standards and Procedures adopted September 18, 1998 and who have registered with the Alabama Center for Dispute Resolution, Inc. Printed copies of the state Mediator roster are available from the Center. To see the full application of any Mediator, please call and request it at (334) 356-3802.

See more on The Center website.

What is Private Judging?

Alabama Private Judge Act – Act 2012-266 authorized the appointment of former or retired judges to serve as private judges in certain district and circuit court cases; and to provide that a private judge would receive compensation for his or her service. It was enacted February 7, 2012 by the Legislature of Alabama. The full text of the Act is at the following links:

Read the Private Judging Act on the Alabama Center for Dispute Resolution website or
View the signed PDF copy Alabama Act 2012-266 – Private Judging

Find a Private Judge

Search the Private Judge Roster.

View entire Private Judge Roster.

See more on The Center website.