Richmond County's Supreme Court ADR program exemplifies this collaborative approach to program development. Their success in bringing together multiple stakeholders offers a model for future unification efforts:
- Local judges and bar associations contribute a deep understanding of community needs
- ADR Coordinators from Southern and Eastern Districts share successful practices across jurisdictions
- Individual practitioners and mediators provide valuable cross-jurisdictional perspectives
- Ongoing feedback loops ensure continuous program improvement
This collaborative framework demonstrates how jurisdictions can work together to create more standardized practices while maintaining responsiveness to local needs. The growing cooperation among different courts suggests a promising path toward greater uniformity in administrative processes.
The evolving process of roster mediator selection illustrates this trend toward standardization. While counties currently maintain different selection approaches, there is an increasing desire for coordination of basic mediator requirements and training standards. One example of how counties are starting to coordinate is Richmond County's planned transition to bi-annual registration in January 2025. This move, which is in line with the already established practice in Kings County, represents a thoughtful approach to balancing administrative efficiency with program accessibility.
Coordination of innovative solutions to mutual challenges is being shared more directly with other jurisdictions so that they can adopt a state-wide system. For example, mediator compensation, has always been an ongoing challenge. To address this challenge, Richmond County is pioneering a Mediator Stipend Program developed in partnership with the Richmond County Bar Association. This stipend program offers a replicable model for other jurisdictions.
The Richmond County Mediation program, along with several other New York State jurisdictions, offers parties 90 minutes of free mediation. In about one-third of court-referred mediated cases, the parties opt to continue beyond the free portion, and thus, the mediator is paid for his or her continuing services. The stipend program provides a nominal amount of $50 to roster mediators when parties decide not to continue beyond the free 90-minute period. It is the court’s way of showing the mediators its thanks and appreciation for their work.
In June 2024, the Richmond County Supreme Court ADR Program held its second annual Mediator Recognition event, which is sponsored by the Office of Court Administration and the various local bar associations. That particular event featured a journal that raised money for the ADR program through the purchase of ads. The newly created Mediator Stipend Program has been solely funded from the event ad fees. The Richmond County Bar Association continues to be the depository for said funds, with disbursement occurring upon the ADR Coordinator’s request. A quarter of the funds have been distributed to roster mediators as of the date of this article. The program hopes to continue to raise money through future events to keep this program alive and operational.
The momentum toward unification is particularly evident in several emerging trends:
- Growing coordination among ADR Coordinators to share best practices and standardize procedures
- Development of consistent administrative processes that preserve flexibility for local needs
- Creation of sustainable compensation models that can be adapted across jurisdictions
- Implementation of unified training standards while maintaining specialized expertise
Richmond County's experience provides valuable insights for system-wide implementation. Their successful integration of stakeholder feedback, recognition of mediator contributions through appreciation events, and adaptable program structure demonstrate how courts can maintain local effectiveness while working toward greater uniformity.
The future of court-connected mediation in New York looks promising as jurisdictions continue to learn from each other and align their practices. The court system is moving toward a more unified approach to ADR, fostered by ADR Coordinators’ collaborative efforts and shared commitment to program improvement. This evolution will enhance and increase access to justice while maintaining the responsiveness and innovation that have made each program successful.
The path forward focuses on leveraging existing partnerships and building new connections across jurisdictions. Success will come through:
- Expanding cross-jurisdictional dialogue and collaboration
- Sharing successful innovations among courts
- Building on existing standardization efforts while preserving valuable local adaptations
- Strengthening stakeholder engagement across all levels of the system
As these collaborative efforts continue to grow, New York's court-connected mediation programs are well-positioned to achieve more thoughtful unification while maintaining the flexibility and innovation that have made them successful. A balanced approach will ensure that the system can effectively serve diverse communities while operating with greater consistency and efficiency.