Through the Lens: Focus on Hon. Mark Whittington (Ret.)

With decades of judicial service—from county court to the appellate bench—Hon. Mark Whittington (Ret.) brings uncommon depth to his work as a mediator, arbitrator and court-appointed neutral at JAMS. He presided over more than 300 jury trials and thousands of nonjury trials in complex civil matters and authored over 1,600 appellate opinions. Today, he draws on this breadth of experience across business, healthcare, construction and insurance disputes to help parties find resolution on their own terms.

Justice Whittington’s approach is marked by informality, a deliberate contrast to the courtroom. “Informality allows everyone to feel comfortable and make suggestions and say things that help me get cases resolved,” he explains. For him, the key to successful mediation lies in ongoing, candid dialogue. “I really think that’s what mediation is all about,” he says.

“Because the more I know and, truthfully, the more the parties get off their chest, the better opportunity we have to resolve the dispute.”

Through this practical, human-centered approach, he helps parties move beyond the dispute and toward resolution with clarity and confidence.