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Vol. 35, Number 8—August 2003 The Program for Consultations in Dispute Resolution To Benefit Courts The Federal Judicial Center has assembled a team of experts to help courts establish or improve court-based alternative dispute resolution programs. They are part of the FJC's new Program for Consultations in Dispute Resolution, which provides on-site analysis and advice tailored to a court's specific needs. The experts are 24 district, bankruptcy, and magistrate judges, court administrators, ADR program administrators, and others with extensive experience in court-based dispute resolution programs. They can provide help on most topics in ADR, including: designing a sound, effective ADR program; effectively using ADR as part of the case management process; identifying and preventing ethical problems in cases referred to ADR; establishing and managing a panel of neutrals; using ADR in the bankruptcy context; managing and administering a court ADR program; and monitoring and evaluating an ADR program. All U.S. district and bankruptcy courts are eligible for the program, and there is no cost to the courts. Courts should keep in mind, however, that funds will support consultations to only about 50 courts and only through calendar year 2004. The FJC program responds to requests from the courts for help in implementing statutory requirements and Judicial Conference policy. An advisory group of judges and court staff provided guidance in developing the project, and the William and Flora Hewlett Foundation funded it through a grant to the Federal Judicial Center Foundation. To find out more about the program, contact Donna Stienstra at (202) 502-4081 (dstienst@fjc.gov) or Laural Hooper at (202) 502-4093 (lhooper@fjc.gov), or contact project staff listed in the program brochure on the FJC's intranet web site at jnet.fjc.dcn.

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