The Amador Superior Court encourages the use of Alternative Dispute Resolution ("ADR") in civil cases. Cases are referred to the appropriate Alternative Dispute Resolution forum at case management conferences.

The most common forms of ADR are mediation, arbitration, and settlement conferences.

Judicial arbitration is similar to a mini-trial before a neutral arbitrator instead of a judge.  Arbitration, either binding or non-binding, is useful in resolving disputes. In arbitration, the parties submit evidence and argument to an arbitrator who makes a decision, either final (binding) or subject to rejection by the parties (non-binding). If the arbitrator’s award is rejected, a Request for Trial De Novo after Judicial Arbitration (Form ADR-102) may be requested, which returns the case to the court’s calendar as if arbitration had not occurred. 

The Court maintains a panel of approved judicial arbitrators who have practiced law for a minimum of five years and who have a certain amount of trial and/or arbitration experience. The Court will pay the fees incurred if a panel arbitrator is used.

Please see the Amador Superior Court  Local Rules of Court for more information regarding judicial arbitration.