Rule 17-603 - [Effective 7/1/2025] Qualifications of Court-Designated ADR Practitioners(a)Court-designated Mediators. A mediator designated by the court pursuant to Rule 17-602(f)(1)(B) shall:(1) unless waived by the parties, be at least 21 years old;(2) have completed at least 40 hours of basic mediation training in a program meeting the requirements of Rule 17-104 or, for individuals trained prior to January 1, 2013, former Rule 17-106;(3) be familiar with the rules, statutes, and procedures governing wills, the administration of estates, the authority of orphans' courts and registers of wills, and the mediation program operated by the orphans' court;(4) complete in each calendar year four hours of continuing mediation-related education in one or more of the topics set forth in Rule 17-104 and provide documentation of continuing education to MACRO in a manner approved by the State Court Administrator;(5) abide by mediation standards adopted by Administrative Order of the Supreme Court and posted on the Judiciary website; and (6) submit to periodic monitoring of court-ordered mediations by a qualified mediator designated by the Chief Judge.(b)Court-designated Settlement Conference Presiders. An individual designated as a settlement conference presider shall:(1) be a member in good standing of the Maryland Bar and have at least three years of experience in the active practice of law;(2) be familiar with the rules, statutes, and procedures governing wills, the administration of estates, the authority of orphans' courts and registers of wills, and appropriate settlement conference procedures; and(3) have conducted at least three settlement conferences as a judge, senior judge, or magistrate, or pursuant to a designation by a Maryland court; and(4) abide by applicable standards adopted by Administrative Order of the Supreme Court and posted on the Judiciary website. Adopted April 9, 2018, eff. 7/1/2018; Nov. 19, 2019, eff. 1/1/2020; amended April 21, 2023, eff. 4/1/2023; amended Nov. 13, 2024, eff. 7/1/2025.