(a) Policy Favoring Settlement by Alternative Dispute Resolution
The court favors resolution of cases by alternative dispute resolution (ADR).
(b) Alternative Dispute Resolution Processes
(1) Early Consideration of Mediation or Settlement Conference. At an early stage in
every case, the parties must actively consider mediation or a settlement conference
to facilitate less costly resolution of the litigation.
(2) Coordination with Case Management Rules. At the meeting of parties under Fed.
R. Civ. P. 26(f) and any conference regarding case management under Fed. R. Civ.
P. 16, litigants must discuss the advisability of engaging in ADR.
(c) Motion for ADR
Upon the request of one or all parties, or on the court’s own motion, the court may order:
(1) a settlement conference before a United States district, bankruptcy, or magistrate
judge, including a senior judge or retired judge, who is not assigned to the case and
who consents to serve as settlement judge; or
(2) mediation with a privately retained mediator agreeable to all parties.
(d) Conduct of Judicial Settlement Conference
(1) Upon appointment, the settlement conference judge will establish the timing and
other terms applicable to the settlement conference.
(2) Upon conclusion of a settlement conference, the settlement conference judge will
promptly file a report indicating whether the case has settled in whole or in part,
Local Civil Rules for the District of Alaska
Effective October 15, 2025
Page 22
whether any follow up is scheduled, and any additional information that all parties
have agreed in writing should be included in the report.
(3) If the settlement conference results in a settlement, the parties must file
appropriate closing papers, or in the case of a partial settlement, papers appropriate
to accomplish the partial settlement, within 30 days from the filing of the settlement
conference judge’s report.
