Be neutral: a publication of the Georgia Office of Dispute Resolution [Apr. 2017]

Be Neutral - April 2017
A publication of the Georgia Office of Dispute Resolution
Justice Center of Atlanta (JCA) celebrates 40th Anniversary

click on picture for more photos

The Justice Center of Atlanta celebrated its 40th Anniversary with a reception on March 16. Founded in 1977, the Justice Center was Georgia's first mediation center and has been a cornerstone in the ADR community. The work of the Justice Center paved the way for the implementation and expansion of court-annexed ADR programs throughout Georgia. Most recently, the Justice Center was the recipient of the American Bar Association's 2016 John W. Cooley Institutional Award in recognition of the Center's history of resolving disputes by creative and non-traditional means for clients and the community. In addition, JCA's Executive Director, Edie Primm, was the recipient of the 2015 Chief Justice Harold G. Clarke Award for her outstanding contributions to Dispute Resolution in Georgia.
To read the full history of the Justice Center click here.

Commission on Dispute Resolution Updates
New Commission Members

(l-r) Justice Keith R. Blackwell, Justice Britt C. Grant, Ms. Tracy Johnson, Judge Charles E. Auslander III

Chief Justice P. Harris Hines of the Supreme Court of Georgia has appointed Justice Keith R. Blackwell and Justice Britt C. Grant to the Georgia Commission on Dispute Resolution. They were sworn in February 1. Learn More

The next meeting is May 3, at the State Bar of Georgia. Commission meeting minutes and additional information can be found here.

ADR Program Updates

Clayton County ADR Program
Program Director Nancy Parkhouse retires after 21 years of service. Ms. Parkhouse has served as the only director for the Clayton County Program having designed and implemented the program in 1996. Prior to her work in Clayton, Ms. Parkhouse was the Deputy Court

(l-r) Ms. Phyllis Douglas, Superior Court Administrator and Ms. Nancy
Parkhouse

Administrator for Cobb County Juvenile Court. Also during her time in Cobb, she proposed, designed, implemented, and administered the Divorcing Parent Seminar, a required

four-hour parenting class for divorcing parents and parties in other domestic relations actions which has become a national model.

Ms. Parkhouse is married to Keith Parkhouse, who retired as Court Administrator from the Clayton Juvenile Court in 2005. They have two adult daughters, Hillary and Laura, and one grandson, Felix.

Atlantic Judicial Circuit ADR Program
Mr. Randall Weiland has been chosen as the new Director of the Atlantic Judicial Circuit, ADR program. He brings to the program a commitment to promoting resolution of court matters via the alternate dispute process. He has worked as a mediator throughout the Atlantic, Eastern and Ogeechee Judicial Circuits over the last five years in addition to working as a facilitator and arguing arbitrations within the Federal Aviation Administration over the last 20 years. Ogeechee Judicial Circuit ADR Director Crystal Thompson remarked, "His positive attitude, professionalism and experience will serve the Atlantic Circuit well. Although he will be sorely missed, we wish Randy all the best in his new venture." When Randall is not working, he enjoys flying as a general aviation pilot.

Fulton County ADR Program
The Fulton ADR Program has two new case managers, Addie Ajao and Chanin Jett and a new front desk clerk, Joe Risby. The Judicially Hosted Settlement Conference Program has added Judge Wendy Shoob and Judge T. Jackson Bedford to its panel of senior judges. The program will be conducting a continuing education event on October 27. All those interested in making a 30-45 minute presentation to the group should contact Program Director Jerry Wood.

2016 Late Registration Renewal
Late registration renewal ends April 30th. Neutrals who do not renew will be inactive and therefore ineligible to mediate court cases. Click here for instructions and to renew!
Did you know?
Georgia is home to the oldest state park in the nation - Indian Springs State Park in Flovilla You can obtain CE credits for FREE by watching videos posted on the GODR website. You can view and request job postings for ADR careers on the GODR website. All advisory and ethics opinions can be viewed on our website.
What we are reading...
Mediator Thinking in Civil Cases by James A. Wall, Kenneth Kressel Conflict Resolution Quarterly, 34 September 2017 Practice Note: Asking Better Questions by Trip Barthel, Mary Fortson-Harwell Conflict Resolution Quarterly, 3 June 2016 When Clients Throw Punches and Chairs: How Mediators Respond to Violence by Susan S. Raines, Yeju Choi Negotiation Journal, 17 October 2016
Call for Submissions
Conflict Resolution Quarterly
This call for papers is designed to elicit a thoughtful examination of the ways in which our work has impacted ourselves, our families, our communities, policy debates, how we teach, etc. Read more
Caselaw Update
New cases on upholding an ADR agreement: Georgia Supreme Court S16G1143. UNITED HEALTH SERVICES OF GEORGIA, INC. et al. v. NORTON et al. Georgia Court of Appeals A16A1988. AMERICAN ACAD. OF GEN. PHYSICIANS, INC. et al. v. LAPLANTE.
Calendar of Events
April 18-22 - 19th Annual ABA Dispute Resolution Spring Conference, San Francisco April 24 - State Holiday (office closed) May 3 - Commission on Dispute Resolution Meeting, State Bar May 5 - Augusta Bar Association, Dispute Resolution Section, Augusta Bar Association, Dispute Resolution Section, 8th Annual Dispute Resolution for Trial & Non-Trial Lawyers, Savannah Rapids Pavilion May 10 - 2017 Southeast Conference on Conflict Management, Nashville May 29 - State Holiday (office closed) December 8 - 2017 ADR Institute, State Bar
Ongoing CE Opportunities are listed on our webpage.
Got News?
We want to hear from you. Please send any news items for future newsletters to Tracy Johnson.
Georgia Office of Dispute Resolution 404-656-3808 "Providing for the Speedy, Efficient, and Inexpensive Resolution of Disputes and Prosecutions."
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Georgia Office of Dispute Resolution, 244 Washington Street, SW, Ste. 300, Atlanta, GA 30334
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