BE NEUTRAL. a publication of the Georgia Office of Dispute Resolution March 2020 Meet Your Commission Established 1993 At the January 29 meeting, Justice John J. Ellington administered the oath to new Chair-Elect Judge M. Cindy Morris, Superior Courts, Conasauga Judicial Circuit and new Member Peggy McCoy Wilson, a registered neutral from Brooks County. Following the swearing-in ceremony, GCDR Chair Hon. Jane C. Barwick added that "[The Commission] is proud of all of our current and former members." In November 2019, Raymond G. Chadwick, Jr., Esq. was honored with a service award upon the end of his term. Likewise, former member Timothy K. Hedeen, Ph.D. will be honored for his service at the next Commission meeting. Read more here. March is Women's Month, and we invite you to take a closer look at four of the Commission's strong female leaders through this ongoing feature... you may even notice that a number of them have something very important in common! Hon. M. Cindy Morris Chair-Elect - Commission Member since 2018 - Chair, GCDR Committee on Ethics - Superior Ct Judge, Conasauga Judicial Circuit - Presides over Domestic Violence Court - Member, GA Commission on Family Violence - Former Assistant District Attorney & Special Assistant to the Attorney General for the Office of Child Support Enforcement - A proud Mercer Bear! Hon. Amanda H. Mercier - Commission Member since 2016 - Former Superior Court Judge and Presiding Judge of the Appalachian Judicial Circuit Mental Health Court - Served two terms as a member of the Georgia Commission on Family Violence and as a member of the Judicial Council Ad Hoc Committee on Criminal Justice Reform in 2018 - Spent her youth working on her family's farm, Mercier Orchards (yes, that one!) Emily S. (Sandy) Bair, Esq. Peggy McCoy Wilson - Commission Member since 2010 - Domestic Relations & Family Law attorney, with over 40 years of successful practice - Has been a registered neutral for over 20 years - Stakes claim as the only Georgia lawyer certified by the American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers in family law arbitration - Repeat Super Lawyer, and has held listing as a Best Lawyer in America since 2008 - Has one heck of a golf handicap! - NEW Commission Member in 2020 - Secretary, GA Commission on Family Violence - Director, Brooks Co. Victim Assistance Program - Registered neutral since 2010 - A Victim/Legal Advocate - Proves that penmanship is a present-day skill by taking handwritten minutes for Georgia Commission on Family Violence meetings! Read More About Our History COVID-19 UPDATE Image copyright: street artist tvboy There is growing uncertainty amidst the COVID-19 pandemic, and many states and municipalities continue to issue stay-at-home orders. We recognize the impact that this situation may have on your practice. The Georgia Office of Dispute Resolution regards your wellness and safety as our top priority, and we are working hard to gather tools and additional resources to assist our registered neutrals during this challenging time. When you have a moment, please visit our devoted Coronavirus webpage. Registration Renewal Last call! Those neutrals who did not complete registration renewal prior to January 1 now have lapsed registration. After April 30, all registrations that have not been renewed will become inactive. Neutrals in inactive status are ineligible to mediate court-connected cases. Paid your fee but still not approved? Please note that you must submit your continuing education hours from 2019 prior to the April 30 deadline. Need help? Find ongoing CE opportunities here. Assistance is available M-F, 8:30am to 5:00pm at gcr@georgiacourts.gov or 404-463-3808 GODR 411: Answering Your Questions "Am I responsible for reporting abuse that I learn of during a mediation? I want to do what is right, but I also know the process is confidential." The essence of the Supreme Court ADR Rules and ethical standards is that any information acquired by the mediator as part of the mediation process is confidential unless one of the very limited and very specific exceptions applies. These exceptions include: - Threats of imminent violence to self or others - Mediator believes that a child is abused - Mediator believes that the safety of any party or 3rd person is in danger Remember: NEVER make reports directly to the judge. Unsure of a situation? You can always bring your concerns directly to your local court ADR program for assistance. Confidentiality, including all exceptions, is outlined in: ADR Rules, VII, B & Advisory Opinion 6 Court Program Spotlight Changes in Coweta Judicial Circuit ADR Congratulations are in order! Wanda Cotton spent the last 20 of her 35 years of public service in court services for the Coweta Judicial Circuit. Ms. Cotton served as director of the Coweta Judicial Circuit Mediation Program (formerly the Troup County Mediation Program), having been involved in court ADR since the earlier program's inception. She is a registered neutral, a member of the Georgia Council of Court Administrators, and a dear friend. We will miss you! Ms. Cotton may have big shoes to fill, but Lindsay Fenn is ready for the challenge! Ms. Fenn is the Court Services Director for Troup County and Program Director for the Coweta Judicial Circuit ADR Program, as well as Librarian and Secretary for Troup County Law Library. Fenn graduated from Clayton State University with a Bachelor of Science Degree in Legal Studies and a Master of Arts Degree in Liberal Studies and has over 20 years' experience in the legal field. She is the current President of the LaGrange Lions Club, the immediate past Chairperson of Keep Troup Beautiful, a member of the Georgia Council of Court Administrators, and a member of the Troup County Republican Women. Join us in congratulating Ms. Cotton and welcoming Ms. Fenn to the ADR community! ALL CALL: JUVENILE MEDIATORS WANTED The Cobb County Juvenile Court ADR Program is seeking qualified juvenile dependency mediators to add to their roster. Qualification includes: - Registration with GODR in the juvenile dependency category - Member of the State Bar of Georgia, in good standing All inquiries should be sent to the Cobb County Juvenile Court Mediation Program Coordinator Rodney Savage. WHAT'S HAPPENING Edith B. Primm, Esq. Receives Inaugural ABA Frank E.A. Sanders Award for Innovation in ADR Edith B. Primm, Esq. and Harrie Samaras, Chair of the ABA Section of Dispute Resolution. Long time Georgia Commission on Dispute Resolution member and Georgia ADR pioneer Edith B. Primm, Esq., honored with the American Bar Association Section of Dispute Resolution's inaugural Frank E.A. Sander Innovation in ADR Award in recognition of her contribution to the field of ADR. The award was presented in August at the ABA annual conference in San Francisco. Click here to read more. Justice Center of Atlanta (JCA) Staff pose with Alison Sander in front of an adorning portrait of her father Frank E.A. Sander during a recent visit to Atlanta. Portrait courtesy of Harvard Law School. Melissa C. Heard, MSSW Presented with Sixth Chief Justice Harold G. Clarke Award Tracy B. Johnson, Executive Director, GODR; Melissa C. Heard, MSSW; and Stacey Mitchener, Esq., President of the GA State Bar Dispute Resolution Section The Georgia Supreme Court Commission on Dispute Resolution and the Dispute Resolution Section of the State Bar of Georgia have awarded the 2019 Chief Justice Harold G. Clarke Award to Melissa C. Heard, MSSW, in recognition of her outstanding contributions to the field of alternative dispute resolution in Georgia. The event marks the first time in the history of the award that the honor has been endowed to a non-attorney. Ms. Heard accepted the award Friday, December 13, at the 26th Annual Alternative Dispute Resolution Institute and 2019 Neutrals' Conference held at the Georgia State University College of Law in Atlanta. Notably, the award presentation was decreed by Edith B. Primm, the 2015 recipient. Click here to read more. Read something interesting recently lately? Let us know! Send current news to gaodr@georgiacourts.gov Calendar of Events April 22-25: ABA Dispute Resolution Section Annual Conference, Online April 27: GODR Office Closed May 6: GCDR Meeting, N. Deal Judicial Cntr May 14: Supplemental Trainings, Canton May 19-20: Supplemental Trainings, Tifton May 25: GODR Office Closed June 9: Supplemental Trainings, Gainesville More dates on our website: GODR.org CONNECT WITH US Copyright 2019 GODR All rights reserved. Georgia Office of Dispute Resolution 244 Washington St. SW, Suite 300 Atlanta, GA 30334 404-463-3808 gaodr@georgiacourts.gov Want to change how you receive these emails? You can update your preferences or unsubscribe from this list.