Welcome to
Early Settlement Mediation!

Please click on the interactive map below
to locate your regional program
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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

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.
NEW Canadian County Judge Dewey! Stacy Horner, Director, Early Settlement – West Program and Phil Johnson, State Director, Alternative Dispute Resolution System recently attended the swearing-in ceremony for Special Judge Lori Dewey in El Reno.
McCurtain County Bar Association! Regan Glinton, Director of Early Settlement – Southeast Program (left) and Becky Going, Office Coordinator of the Early Settlement – Idabel Office (right) joined Phil Johnson, State Director, Alternative Dispute Resolution System, for a presentation to the McCurtain County Bar Association this week. The Southeast program serves eight (8) counties in southeastern Oklahoma and is sponsored by East Central University.
Oklahoma Indian Legal Services & East Central University! Stephanie Hudson Burghart JD is the Executive Director of Oklahoma Indian Legal Services and Dr. Christine Pappas is the Chair and Professor of the Political Science and Legal Studies Department at East Central University which sponsors both programs. Stephanie has been a friend of Early Settlement Mediation for nearly 30 years and is an excellent mediator! Both ladies believe in the mediation process which gives people the opportunity to settle conflict peacefully.
NEW East Central Program Office! East Central University sponsors three (3) of the Early Settlement Mediation regional programs, with the Early Settlement – East Central program located on the main campus in Ada. The office recently moved to the Horace Mann building which is closer to the Legal Studies Department headed by Dr. Christine Pappas (right). Jorjia Cash serves are the Program Director and State Director, Phil Johnson, joined both this week to tour the office. “East Central University has been an incredible sponsor for many years and on behalf of the Administrative Office of the Courts we are thankful for their continued support,” Phil Johnson, State Director, Alternative Dispute Resolution System.
Family Mediation Training! Several community volunteer mediators from across Oklahoma attended the Summer Family Mediation Training at the University of Oklahoma Law School in Norman. The 40-hour training equips the volunteers with the skills necessary to conduct family and divorce mediations for the Early Settlement Mediation programs. The trainees will now go through a certification process through local program sponsor. If interested in becoming a volunteer mediator for Early Settlement, please contact your local program office.
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.