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

NEW FY 2025 Quick View Report

Check out the NEW Quick View Report for FY 2025! The report gives an overview of the nationally recognized Early Settlement Mediation program and statistics for the FY 2025 (July 2024 – June 2025) year. CLICK HERE TO VIEW THE FY 2025 QUICK VIEW REPORT

Court Improvement Conference

Court Improvement Conference! Directors from the Early Settlement Mediation regional programs recently staffed an information table with brochures at the Court Improvement Conference in Norman. The Early Settlement Mediation program provides FREE mediation services for child permanency cases when court ordered. Pictured L to R: Sarah Head, Southwest Program, Stacy Horner, West Program, Laruen O’Brien, Associate State Director & Oklahoma County Program, & Jorjia Cash, East Central Program. Pictured L to R: Phil Johnson, State Director, Alternative Dispute Resolution System & Jaxie Johnston, South Central Program.

State Agency Mediator Training

State Agency Mediator Training! Over 20 State of Oklahoma employees recently attended the mediator training class sponsored by the State of Oklahoma Civil Service division of the Office of Management and Enterprise Services. The trainees will use the training to volunteer mediate employee disputes and for the Early Settlement Mediation program which serves the courts and communities across Oklahoma. Duncan Marshall is the Program Coordinator. For more information click on this link: adrs.oscn.net/agency

Oklahoma City University – School of Law Presentation

OCU Law School Presentation! Lauren O’Brien, Associate State Director and Director for the Early Settlement Mediation – Oklahoma County program, and Phil Johnson, State Director, Alternative Dispute Resolution Program made a presentation recently for Tia Matt, Oklahoma City School of Law Professor, about the Early Settlement Mediation program.
Early Settlement Mediation – Southwestern Oklahoma Program
NEW Office Space! Jari Askins, representing Cameron University, gave Early Settlement – Southwest program director, Sarah Head, office coordinator, Christina Erwin, and State Director, Phil Johnson, (not pictured) a tour of the new office space the Early Settlement program will be occupying soon. “Cameron University continues to be a great friend and sponsor to the Early Settlement program which serves the communities and courts in southwestern Oklahoma,” Phil Johnson stated.

Dispute Resolution Advisory Board Swearing-In

The Honorable Justice Travis Jett administered the oath of office to the FY 2026 Dispute Resolution Advisory Board recently. Pictured (L to R front row) Brandon Clabes, Justice Jett, Russ Cochran, (2nd row L to R) Tracy Osburn, Misty Crain-Engelbrecht, Amber Choate, Ted Roberts, (Back row L to R) Honorable Trent Pipes, Bob Thomas, Jane Wheeler, & Chris Schroder. Not pictured – Adam Doverspike, Stan L. Foster, Jason Hicks, Bonnie L. Clift, and Frank Turner.

40-Years of Service on the Dispute Resolution Advisory Board
40 Years of Service! Dispute Resolution Advisory Board Chairman, Ted Roberts, and Supreme Court Justice Travis Jett presented Jane Wheeler with an acrylic award for her 40 years of service to the Dispute Resolution Advisory Board. Jane has served on the board since its inception in 1985 and continues to serve today.
Volunteer Mediator Family Mediation Training – OU Law
Family Mediation Training! Early Settlement volunteer mediators from across Oklahoma attended the advanced family mediation training at OU Law in Norman recently. The volunteers have already completed their basic civil mediation certification and are attending this training to conduct family cases.
SE OK Teacher’s In-Service – Dealing with Conflict Presentation
Oklahoma Judicial Conference – Early Settlement Mediation Information Booth
Statewide Judicial Conference! Lauren Craig O’Brien, Associate State Director, and Phil Johnson, State Director of the Alternative Dispute Resolution System set-up a table for the Early Settlement Mediation Programs at the Judicial Conference recently held at the NEW OKANA Resort in Oklahoma City.
Volunteer Mediator Conference – Early Settlement Team
Early Settlement Volunteer Mediator Conference! The Volunteer Mediator Conference was held recently at Metro Technology in Oklahoma City. It’s an annual event that brings volunteer mediators from across Oklahoma together for a day of learning, food, & fellowship. The Early Settlement Directors are instrumental in organizing and help making the event successful each year.
(L to R Back Row) Tim Scott, Stacey Foster, Tylnn Childress, LeiLani Armstrong, Julie Easley, Jay Irby, Stacy Horner, & Ever Vidana. (L to R Front Row) Sarah Head, Phil Johnson, Jorjia Cash, Lauren O’Brien, Regan Glinton, Maggie Griffith, & Jaxie Johnston. A special thanks to Jaxie, Sarah, & Jorji for their hard work on the photo booth backdrop!