Welcome to
Early Settlement Mediation!

Please click on the interactive map below
to locate your regional program
ok-county-map harper woods woodward major dewey blaine kingfisher caddo canadian grady cimarron texas beaver alfalfa grant kay osage washington nowata ellis garfield noble pawnee tulsa roger mills logan payne creek okmulgee beckham custer oklahoma lincoln okfuskee mcintosh harmon greer kiowa washita comanche mcclain cleveland pott. seminole hughes pittsburg haskell jackson tillman cotton stephens garvin pontotoc coal atoka pushmataha latimer jefferson carter murray love marshall johnston bryan choctaw craig ottawa rogers mayes delaware wagoner cherokee adair muskogee sequoyah leflore mccurtain

Introduction

The Alternative Dispute Resolution System in Oklahoma is made up of thirteen (13) regional Early Settlement Mediation Centers (including one (1) municipal program) which provide FREE mediation services all 77 counties in Oklahoma. There are fourteen (14) State Agencies with programs offering specialized mediation services. The Alternative Dispute Resolution System was authorized (1983) and funded (1985) by the state legislature through the Oklahoma Dispute Resolution Act, 12 O.S. Supp. 1997, § 1801 et seq. The Administrative Director of the Courts administers and supervises the Alternative Dispute Resolution System through a designated, State Director, with the ongoing input of the Dispute Resolution Advisory Board.

Alternative Dispute Resolution System
News and Happenings

January Family Training! Several volunteer mediators from across the state braved the cold January weather to attend the Family Mediation training at the University of Oklahoma Law School. In FY 2024, the Early Settlement Mediation programs received over 1,500 family and divorce mediation requests.
Family Mediation Training! The Alternative Dispute Resolution System hosted a family mediation training at the University of Oklahoma Law School in Norman recently. Jaxie Johnston, Director, Early Settlement Mediation – South Central program served as one of the trainers. The Early Settlement programs use community volunteers as mediators. If you are interested in becoming a volunteer mediator reach out to the program office in the area you reside using the map on this page.
The Verdict!  Phil Johnson, State Director, appeared on “The Verdict” television show recently with former Oklahoma City Mayor Mick Cornett to share about the Early Settlement Mediation programs and the FREE mediation services the programs provide to the people across Oklahoma!
Oklahoma Society of Certified Public Accountants! Phil Johnson, State Director, Alternative Dispute Resolution System, recently presented a program, “Dealing with Difficult People” for the Oklahoma Society of Certified Public Accountants in Oklahoma City.
Dispute Resolution Advisory Board!  Oklahoma Supreme Court Justice Yvonne Kauger administered the loyalty oath of office to the fiscal year 2025 Dispute Resolution Advisory Board recently. The 15-member board is made up of representatives from various state agencies, the judiciary, law enforcement, and community groups and serve in an advisory capacity to the State Director and the courts leadership.  
FY 2025 Dispute Resolution Advisory Board with Justice Yvonne Kauger
Directors’ Summit!  It’s always great to kick-off the new fiscal year with the Early Settlement team members from across the state.  The Early Settlement Mediation program, a program supported by the Administrative Office of the Courts, is recognized as one of the top community-based, court-connected, programs in the nation.  The programs received over 5,800 referrals for FREE mediation services.
Court Improvement Conference – Tulsa! Ever Vidana, Director, Early Settlement – NE Program, and Phil Johnson, State Director, Alternative Dispute Resolution System, recently helped staff the CIP conference at the Southern Hills Marriott in Tulsa. Felice Hamilton serves as the Director of the Court Improvement Program.
Oklahoma City University School of Law! Lauren Craig O’Brien, Associate State Director and the Early Settlement Mediation – Oklahoma County Program Director, and Phil Johnson, State Director, Alternative Dispute Resolution System recently spoke to Professor Connie Smothermon’s law class about the nationally recognized Early Settlement Mediation program. The law students were encouraged to participate in the student extern mediation program.
Court Improvement Conference! Several Early Settlement Directors recently helped staff the CIP conference at the Embassy Suites in Norman. From left to right: Tim Scott, Statewide CIP Coordinator, Lauren Craig O’Brien, Associate State Director and Oklahoma County Program Director, Jorjia Cash, East Central Program Director, Stacy Horner, West Program Director, and Sarah Head, Southwest Program Director.
Mediator Training!  Several Judicial Center staff and law student interns participated in a 2-Day Basic Civil Mediation recently hosted by the Alternative Dispute Resolution System through the Administrative Office of the Courts.  Participants gained insight into how to effectively mediate conflicts!  Oklahoma is recognized nationally as having one of the top community-based court-connected mediation programs in the nation.
2023 Volunteer Mediator of the Year! Nancy Mallory, Early Settlement Mediation – Oklahoma County Program was named the Volunteer Mediator of the Year at the Annual Conference last week. Lauren Craig-O’Brien, Associate State Director, presented Nancy the award. In 2023, Nancy mediated 51 basic civil cases and 27 family cases as a volunteer mediator. She gave 170 hours of volunteer time back the Oklahoma County program. Congrats Nancy and thank you for all you do!
Early Settlement Mediation Program Directors! The annual Volunteer Mediator Conference was held recently at Metro Technology Center in Oklahoma City and over 100 volunteer mediators from across the state attended the event. The Early Settlement Program Directors helped host the annual event which includes a full-day of presentations and a FREE luncheon to honor the volunteers mediators. These Directors were instrumental in helping organize the conference as well as making presentations.