ABA Mediation Week: In the Midst of Every Crisis… Setting Anti-Bias Standards for Mediators

How to ensure litigants’ equal access to justice by requiring anti-bias training for mediators. With states forcing the issue on starting virtual jury trials and resuming in-person jury trials, attorneys and litigants alike are facing the decision of whether to choose a jury tremendously affected by the socioeconomic consequences of the digital divide and increased susceptibility to COVID-19 or moving forward with mediation.

For those litigants who either personally or strategically require diverse decisionmakers, where such diversity cannot be accomplished with the jury system, racially and culturally sensitive mediators will be the best alternative. All mediators, diverse or not, must be in a position to step into the void and provide non-biased insight and support to the parties as they mediate their matters. Goal: We must make it clear to litigators wary of facing a non-diverse jury system that for our profession, diversity is the key strategy for ensuring the constitutionally protected right for litigants to have a jury of their peers.

Featured JAMS Speaker

Hon. Candace Cooper (Ret.)

This event is part of the American Bar Association's Virtual Mediation Week (October 19 - 23, 2020). 

For more information about the weeklong event and help with registration on the ABA website, contact Linda Seely at Linda.Seely@americanbar.org.

Featured JAMS Mediation Week Webinars

ABA Mediation Week - "Resolution 105 RoundTable"
Wednesday, October 21, 2020 | 9:00 AM (Pacific) / 12:00 PM (Eastern)

Pandemic and Beyond: Mediation's Expanding Role in Access to Justice
Tuesday, October 27, 2020 | 10:00 AM (Pacific) / 1:00 PM (Eastern)