The Age of Mediation

Welcome to our Page, and the Inns of Mediation. Over the past several decades, Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR), mediation, arbitration, and negotiation, has become a major factor in the United States in resolving disputes previously resolved in the courts. In absolute numbers, courtroom trials have decreased by over 70% in the past two decades In 1962, 11.2% of cases filed went to trial, whereas today less than 1%. Although our court system is critical in maintaining the integrity of the rights of each citizen, still, ADR, and in particular, mediation, has become the primary means to resolution for a vast majority of the citizenry. With the emergence of mediation and the other ADR mechanisms it is now apparent that a similar organization of students, lawyers and other professionals would immeasurably serve the public and the cause of peaceful resolution of legal disputes. And this would further carry out the admonition of Chief Justice Warren E. Burger of the United States Supreme Court, that the profession should establish “mechanisms that can provide an acceptable result in the shortest possible time, with the least possible expense and with minimum stress on the participants. That is what justice is all about.” To that end in 2017, an organization was created by a group of judges, attorneys, and mediators in Des Moines, Iowa, to provide a collegial and educational environment among judges, lawyers, other professionals, law students, and undergraduate students to discuss alternatives to litigation – an Inns of Mediation. The core of an Inn is the pupilage groups which include seasoned mediators, as well as judges, lawyers and students. These groups will meet monthly and discuss ADR topics as well as provide training for students and newly graduated students entering a profession. We look forward to expanding this movement to other universities, regions and countries and creating other chapters of the Inns of Mediation