As amended through November 4, 2024
Section 3 - Initiation/Order of Reference(a) Rule 31 Mediation may be initiated by the consent of the parties or by the entry of an Order of Reference.(b) Upon motion of either party, or upon its own initiative, a Court by Order of Reference may order the parties in an Eligible Civil Action to participate in a Rule 31 Mediation.(c) Any Order of Reference made on the Court's own initiative shall be subject to review on motion by any party and shall be vacated should the Court determine in its sound discretion that the referred case is not appropriate for Rule 31 Mediation or is not likely to benefit from submission to Rule 31 Mediation. Pending disposition of any such motion, the Rule 31 Mediation shall be stayed without the need for a court order.(d) All Rule 31 Mediations shall be concluded as efficiently and expeditiously as possible given the circumstances of the case.