A judicial officer, usually not the trial judge, convenes the parties to negotiate. Judges frequently take an evaluative approach, offering views on the merits and likely outcomes.
Attendance and authority requirements are typically mandatory.
Alternative Names:
Judicial Mediation, Judge-Hosted Settlement Conference
Why it Matters?
Judicial evaluation carries weight a private mediator's does not, since the assessment comes from someone who tries similar cases and whose view approximates what a court might do. That authority is the principal advantage. The corresponding concern is candor, since parties are appropriately cautious about disclosing weaknesses to a judicial officer, and confirming the separation from the trial judge is what enables useful discussion.
Frequently Confused with
Related terms
Frequently asked questions
What advantage does a judicial conference offer?
What should be confirmed first?
