Welcome to
Early Settlement Mediation!

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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

Retirement Celebration

Chief Justice Award Presentation – Chief Justice, Dustin Rowe, presented retiring State Director, Phil Johnson, with an award for his thirty (30) years of service to the Alternative Dispute Resolution System.

Retirement Reception – State Director, Phil Johnson, was recently honored at a reception hosted by the Administrative Office of the Courts for 30 years of service to the court system. Several Early Settlement Directors were able to attend (L to R) Jorjia Cash, East Central Program, Lauren O’Brien, Oklahoma County Program & NEW State Director, Johnson, Jaxie Johnston, South Central Program, Sarah Head, Southwest Program, and Tim Scott, Child Permanency Coordinator. Not pictured is LeiLani Armstrong, Tulsa Program and Ronda Guerrero, City of Norman Program.

Bon Voyage!  After much prayerful consideration, Phil Johnson, State Director, has decided to retire after 30 years as the State Director of the Alternative Dispute Resolution System, a program of the Supreme Court of Oklahoma, effective July 1, 2026.  After serving ten (10) years as a regional program director at East Central University, in 2006, he was named the Assistant State Director and Director of the Central Oklahoma program in Oklahoma City.  In 2016, Phil was named the State Director where he has served the last ten (10) years.

“I have been extremely blessed to lead one of the nation’s top mediation programs and will certainly miss my leadership team and the many volunteer mediators across Oklahoma. The future is bright for Early Settlement as the program is poised for continued growth in the years to come. I’ll be forever grateful to the court’s leadership and many judges across the state for their support over the years!” Phil Johnson, State Director

Lauren Craig O’Brien, has been named the new State Director and will be moving into the position after serving as the Associate State Director and Director of the Early Settlement Mediation – Oklahoma County program for the last eight (8) years. Congrats to Lauren!

Early Settlement – North Program Open House

NEW Early Settlement – North Program Office – The Early Settlement – North program office recently moved from the Payne County Courthouse to the nearby Annex building. Phil Johnson, State Director (Left) and Seth Condley, Payne County Commissioner (3rd from the left) joined Jay Irby, Program Director, and his staff for the open house.

Volunteer Mediator Conference 2026

Early Settlement Directors! The Early Settlement Directors joined with Phil Johnson, State Director, for a group picture at the recent Early Settlement Mediation Annual Conference in Oklahoma City.

Leadership Interviewed on News Talk show “The Verdict”

The Verdict! State Director Phil Johnson and Associate State Director Lauren O’Brien joined former Mayor Mick Cornett and local attorney Kent Meyers on “The Verdict” to discuss the Alternative Dispute Resolution System and the work of our programs across the state. The show airs in the Oklahoma City and Tulsa television markets.

Tulsa Volunteer Mediator Family Training

Family Mediation Training! Community volunteers attended a family mediation training at the Early Settlement – Tulsa Program offices recently. The attendees from northeastern Oklahoma will be volunteering for the regional Early Settlement Mediation programs, which are part of the Alternative Dispute Resolution program through the Administrative Office of the Courts. The Tulsa program serves Creek, Oklmulgee, and Tulsa counties.

Oklahoma City Volunteer Mediator Family Training

Family Mediation Training! Community volunteers attended a family mediation training at OSU/OKC recently. The attendees from various parts of Oklahoma will be volunteering for the Early Settlement Mediation program, which is part of the Alternative Dispute Resolution program through the Administrative Office of the Courts. Last year, the Early Settlement program offices received over 2,000 requests for FREE family mediation services.

East Central University Legal Studies Department Visit

East Central University Visitors! The Chief Justice Dustin Rowe, of the Oklahoma Supreme Court and ECU graduate, spoke to the visiting East Central University Legal Studies Department students and sponsors in his chambers recently. Phil Johnson, State Director of the Alternative Dispute Resolution System and ECU graduate, gave the group a tour of the historic Oklahoma Judicial Center. Sponsors for the group were Dr. Christine Pappas, Chairman of the Legal Studies Department, and Jorjia Cash, Director of the Early Settlement Mediation – East Central program.