judicial officer may require parties in civil cases to consider some form of
alternative dispute resolution process (“ADR”), including but not limited to,
mediation, early neutral evaluation, minitrial, or arbitration, as follows:
(a) Mediation may be conducted under the auspices of a private professional
mediator or a judicial officer.
(b) All communications in ADR proceedings are confidential, they are not
subject to discovery, and such communications may not be disclosed to
anyone other than the parties and ADR participants.
(c) Positions taken and statements or concessions made during the mediation
process shall not be admissible as evidence during any court proceedings.
(d) The mediator shall not be called or listed as a witness in, nor compelled to
produce documents related to, any matter in which such mediator shall have
served.
(e) Each District Court may, by separate General Order, designate a person to
implement, administer, oversee, and evaluate alternative dispute resolution
in such District.
