Rule III - REFERRAL OF CIVIL CASESCivil Cases may be referred to mediation in the following manner:
A. Any circuit, chancery and county court in this state may, either on its own motion or on the motion of any party, determine that a case is appropriate for mediation. A court may not order a case to mediation more than one time. B. If the court on its own motion determines that a pending dispute is appropriate for referral to mediation, the court shall enter its order which shall direct the clerk or court administrator to notify the parties to complete a mediation as set forth in this rule within a time period as the court may specify. Any party, within 10 days of the date of entry of the court's order, may file written objection to the referral order and request a hearing by the court. C. Any party may apply to the courts of this state for referral of a case to mediation by motion upon giving notice to all other parties. A hearing may be conducted on the motion at which the court shall make a determination as to whether mediation is appropriate and if the case is referred shall enter its appropriate order. D. Upon the court entering its final order referring a case to mediation all objections having been heard by the court, the parties shall have a period of 20 days from the date of entry of the court's final order to schedule the mediation. If the parties are unable to agree on a convenient date and mediator, the clerk or administrator of the court shall assign a date, time, location and mediator to conduct the mediation procedure, which assignment will be binding on the parties upon their being notified by the clerk or court administrator of the court. Any objections any party may have with regard to the date, time or location assigned for the mediation or the selection of the mediator shall be filed with the court in writing within 10 days of entry of the notice of the clerk or court administrator.Ct. Annex. Med. R. Civ. Liti. III