Section 19. The chief justice of the trial court may establish and promulgate rules for a mandatory alternative dispute resolution program for civil actions within the trial court subject to the approval of the supreme judicial court, subject to appropriation; provided, however, that the parties to a dispute resolution shall not be bound by the results thereof. The chief justice for administration and management shall supervise and establish standards for the implementation of such program and shall further implement a program of certification for all personnel conducting alternative dispute resolution programs in the courts of the commonwealth.
The chief justice of the trial court shall establish a pilot program of alternative dispute resolution within the counties of Bristol, Worcester and Suffolk under his direct supervision. Pursuant to said pilot program, he shall be responsible to fund, coordinate, and evaluate activities of the trial court within said counties to screen and refer cases to alternative dispute resolution. Within said counties, the chief justice for administration and management shall, no later than twelve months from the date of filing any civil litigation which involves a contract claim, tort claim, equitable remedy dispute or other litigation the trial court may determine to be appropriate, be screened for referral to a qualified alternative dispute resolution program. Screening should enable litigants or their attorneys to select among options which include self-directed settlement negotiation, case evaluation, mediation, non-binding arbitration, expert fact finding and binding arbitration. The chief justice of the trial court shall monitor and evaluate the cost, impact and effectiveness of activities undertaken to screen and refer cases to alternative dispute resolution and report annually to the general court on his findings. The annual report should identify unmet needs and promising opportunities for additional screening and referral activities and recommend legislative actions required to implement these activities.
Structure Massachusetts General Laws
Part III - Courts, Judicial Officers and Proceedings in Civil Cases
Title I - Courts and Judicial Officers
Chapter 211b - Trial Court of the Commonwealth
Section 2 - Number of Trial Court Justices; Appointments
Section 3 - Justices Assigned to Other Departments; Powers and Duties
Section 4 - Salaries; Practice of Law; Expenses; Vacation and Sick Leave; Special Justices
Section 5 - Chief Justices; Appointment; Term; Removal
Section 6 - Chief Justice of the Trial Court; Appointment; Term; Removal
Section 6b - Office of Court Management; Court Administrator
Section 7 - Vacancies in Office
Section 8 - Advisory Committee on Personnel Standards
Section 9 - Chief Justice of the Trial Court; Powers and Duties
Section 9a - Employees of Chief Justice for Administration and Management; Powers and Duties
Section 9b - Domestic and Sexual Violence Training for Court Personnel
Section 10 - Chief Justice and Deputy Court Administrators; Powers and Duties
Section 10a - First Justices; Powers and Duties
Section 10b - Appointment of Assistant Clerks
Section 10c - Limitation of Powers, Duties or Responsibilities of Clerks or Registers of Probate
Section 12 - Office of Court Management; Court Administrator
Section 13 - Estimates of Expenses, Costs and Revenue
Section 14 - Services of Retired Justices
Section 16 - Judicial Institute; Training Judicial and Nonjudicial Personnel
Section 19 - Mandatory Alternative Dispute Resolution Program
Section 20 - Leave of Absence; Restrictions
Section 21 - Publication of Notice in Newspaper; Notice Requirements Deemed Met
Section 22 - Delivery of Criminal Case Disposition Information to Department of State Police