ETHICAL GUIDELINES FOR MEDIATORS
from The State Bar of Texas Alternative Dispute Resolution Section

Note: If you have a complaint about a mediator, go to TMCA's website at www.txmca.org for information about the grievance procedure.

PREAMBLE
These Ethical Guidelines are intended to promote public confidence in the mediation process and to be a general guide for mediator conduct. They are not intended to be disciplinary rules or a code of conduct. Mediators should be responsible to the parties, the courts and the public, and should conduct themselves accordingly. These Ethical Guidelines are intended to apply to mediators conducting mediations in connection with all civil, criminal, administrative and appellate matters whether the mediation is pre-suit or court-annexed and whether the mediation is court-ordered or voluntary.

GUIDELINES

1. Mediation Defined
Mediation is a private process in which an impartial person, a mediator, encourages and facilitates communications between parties to a conflict and strives to promote reconciliation, settlement, or understanding. A mediator should not render a decision on the issues in dispute. The primary responsibility for the resolution of a dispute rests with the parties.

Comment
A mediator's obligation is to assist the parties in reaching a voluntary settlement. The mediator should not coerce a party in any way. A mediator may make suggestions, but all settlement decisions are to be made voluntarily by the parties themselves.

2. Mediator Conduct
A mediator should protect the integrity and confidentiality of the mediation process. The duty to protect the integrity and confidentiality of the mediation process commences with the first communication to the mediator, is continuous in nature, and does not terminate upon the conclusion of the mediation.

Comment (a)
A mediator should not use information obtained during the mediation for personal gain or advantage.

Comment (b)
The interests of the parties should always be placed above the personal interest of the mediator.

Comment (c)
A mediator should not accept mediations which cannot be completed in a timely manner or as directed by a court.

Comment (d)
Although a mediator may advertise the mediator's qualifications and availability to mediate, the mediator should not solicit a specific case or matter.

Comment (e)
A mediator should not mediate a dispute when the mediator has knowledge that another mediator has been appointed or selected without first consulting with the other mediator or the parties unless the previous mediation has been concluded.

3. Mediation Costs
As early as practical, and before the mediation session begins, a mediator should explain all fees and other expenses to be charged for the mediation. A mediator should not charge a contingent fee or a fee based upon the outcome of the mediation. In appropriate cases, a mediator should perform mediation services at a reduced fee or without compensation.

Comment (a)
A mediator should avoid the appearance of impropriety in regard to possible negative perceptions regarding the amount of the mediator's fee in court-ordered mediations.

Comment (b)
If a party and the mediator have a dispute that cannot be resolved before commencement of the mediation as to the mediator's fee, the mediator should decline to serve so that the parties may obtain another mediator.

4. Disclosure of Possible Conflicts
Prior to commencing the mediation, the mediator should make full disclosure of any known relationships with the parties or their counsel that may affect or give the appearance of affecting the mediator's neutrality. A mediator should not serve in the matter if a party makes an objection to the mediator based upon a conflict or perceived conflict.

Comment (a)
A mediator should withdraw from a mediation if it is inappropriate to serve.

Comment (b)
If after commencement of the mediation, the mediator discovers that such a relationship exists, the mediator should make full disclosure as soon as practicable.

5. Mediator Qualifications
A mediator should inform the participants of the mediator's qualifications and experience.

Comment
A mediator's qualifications and experience constitute the foundation upon which the mediation process depends; therefore, if there is any objection to the mediator's qualifications to mediate the dispute, the mediator should withdraw from the mediation. Likewise, the mediator should decline to serve if the mediator feels unqualified to do so.

6. The Mediation Process
A mediator should inform and discuss with the participants the rules and procedures pertaining to the mediation process.

Comment (a)
A mediator should inform the parties about the mediation process no later than the opening session.

Comment (b)
At a minimum, the mediator should inform the parties of the following: (1) the mediation is private (Unless otherwise agreed by the participants, only the mediator, the parties and their representatives are allowed to attend.); (2) the mediation is informal (There are no court reporters present, no record is made of the proceeding, no subpoena or other service of process is allowed, and no rulings are made on the issues or the merits of the case.); and (3) the mediation is confidential to the extent provided by law. (See e.g., Sec.154.053 and 154.073, Tex. Civ. Prac. & Rem. Code.)

7. Convening the Mediation
Unless the parties agree otherwise, the mediator should not convene a mediation session unless all parties and their representatives ordered by the court have appeared, corporate parties are represented by officers or agents who have represented to the mediator that they possess adequate authority to negotiate a settlement, and an adequate amount of time has been reserved by all parties to the mediation to allow the mediation process to be productive.

Comment
A mediator should not convene the mediation if the mediator has reason to believe that a Pro Se party fails to understand that the mediator is not providing legal representation for the pro Se party. In connection with Pro Se parties, see also Guidelines #9, 11, and 13 and associated comments below.

8. Confidentiality
A mediator should not reveal information made available in the mediation process, which information is privileged and confidential, unless the affected parties agree otherwise or as may be required by law.

Comment (a)
A mediator should not permit recordings or transcripts to be made of mediation proceedings.

Comment (b)
A mediator should maintain confidentiality in the storage and disposal of records and should render anonymous all identifying information when materials are used for research, educational or other informational purposes.

Comment (c)
Unless authorized by the disclosing party, a mediator should not disclose to the other parties information given in confidence by the disclosing party and should maintain confidentiality with respect to communications relating to the subject matter of the dispute. The mediator should report to the court whether or not the mediation occurred, and that the mediation either resulted in a settlement or an impasse, or that the mediation was either recessed or rescheduled.

Comment (d)
In certain instances, applicable law may require disclosure of information revealed in the mediation process. For example, the Texas Family Code may require a mediator to disclose child abuse or neglect to the appropriate authorities. If confidential information is disclosed, the mediator should advise the parties that disclosure is required and will be made.

9. Impartiality
A mediator should be impartial toward all parties.

Comment
If a mediator or the parties find that the mediator's impartiality has been compromised, the mediator should offer to withdraw from the mediation process. Impartiality means freedom from favoritism or bias in word, action and appearance; it implies a commitment to aid all parties in reaching a settlement.

10. Disclosure and Exchange of Information
A mediator should encourage the disclosure of information and should assist the parties in considering the benefits, risks, and the alternatives available to them.

11. Professional Advice
A mediator should not give legal or other professional advice to the parties.

Comment (a)
In appropriate circumstances, a mediator should encourage the parties to seek legal, financial, tax or other professional advice before, during or after the mediation process.

Comment (b)
A mediator should explain generally to pro Se parties that there may be risks in proceeding without independent counsel or other professional advisors.

12. No Judicial Action Taken
A person serving as a mediator generally should not subsequently serve as a judge, master, guardian-ad-litem, or in any other judicial or quasi-judicial capacity in the matters that are the subject of the mediation.

Comment
It is generally inappropriate for a mediator to serve in a judicial or quasi-judicial capacity in a matter in which the mediator has had communications with one or more parties without all other parties present. For example, an attorney-mediator who has served as a mediator in pending litigation should not subsequently serve in the same case as a special master, guardian-ad-litem, or in any other judicial or quasi-judicial capacity with binding decision-making authority. Notwithstanding the foregoing where an impasse has been declared at the conclusion of a mediation, the mediator, if requested and agreed to by all parties, may serve as the arbitrator in a binding arbitration of the dispute, or as a third-party neutral in any other alternative dispute proceeding, so long as the mediator believes nothing learned during private conferences with any party to the mediation will bias the mediator or will unfairly influence the mediator's decisions while acting in his/her subsequent capacity.

13. Termination of Mediation Session
A mediator should postpone, recess, or terminate the mediation process if it is apparent to the mediator that the case is inappropriate for mediation or one or more of the parties is unwilling or unable to participate meaningfully in the mediation process.

14. Agreements in Writing
A mediator should encourage the parties to reduce all settlement agreements to writing.

15. Mediator's Relationship with the Judiciary
A mediator should avoid the appearance of impropriety in the mediator's relationship with a member of the judiciary or the court staff with regard to appointments or referrals to mediation. Association of Mediators, Inc.