"ALTERNATIVE DISPUTE RESOLUTION" Training of Trainers (TOT) WORKSHOP

Pam Matthews, ADR expert and ABA Legal Specialist conducted a training of trainers workshop for the Arab Women's Legal Network (AWLN) on Alternative Dispute Resolution in May 2007, bringing together participants from Qatar, Iraq, Algeria, Egypt, Palestine, and Lebanon. The workshop was sponsored by the Minister of Justice and a reception was held for particpants at the Raddison Hotel in Amman.
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ABA -ADR Legal Specilaist host mediation training in Jordan led by Peter Robinson, Managing Director of the Straus Institute at Pepperdine University, School of Law.

Experts and local stakeholders have expressed considerable concern about Jordan's overburdened court system, citing decreased accessibility to justice and public dissatisfaction with the courts. The Rule of Law Initiative introduced court mediation as an alternative to Jordan’s lengthy, costly litigation process. Legislative amendment to Jordan’s Mediation Law, trainings, awareness sessions, and the development of materials (including public brochures, forms and a code of ethics for mediators) were part of the necessary preparation. The Amman Court of First Instance launched Jordan's first court mediation program on June 1, 2006. In remarks made during the launch ceremony, the Minister and Chief Justice indicated Jordan’s confidence in the project's ability to increase the efficiency of the court system and to serve as a model for the future expansion of judicial mediation throughout Jordan. Since the launch, over 300 cases have been referred to court mediation, including eviction, contracts, insurance and banking cases, with a settlement rate above 70%. Plans are being made to replicate court mediation across the Kingdom. In support of court mediation and private mediation, the Rule of Law Initiative has been working with attorneys and other professionals to build their mediation skills and to enhance the profession of mediation in Jordan.

CMRG President arranges study tour for delegation of Jordanian judges in the US as a part of her duties as ABA-ADR Legal Specialist/Expert.

Rule of Law Initiative Sponsors U.S. Study Tour for Jordanian Judges

Pam Matthews, CMRG president and ABA ADR Legal Specialist arranged the US tour for the delegation from June 19 to 28, 2007. Thirteen Jordanian judges, including the Secretary General, head of the Judicial Institute of Jordan and the two practicing mediation judges in Mediation court, traveled to the United States for a study tour focused on alternative dispute resolution. The tour began with an intensive four-day advanced interactive training in mediation, with three experienced U.S. mediators acting as instructors, at the well known Straus Institute for Dispute Resolution at the Pepperdine University School of Law.

Following the training, the Jordanian judges visited a number of mediation programs, learning from and exchanging ideas with administrators and mediators. The judges visited the Los Angeles City Attorney’s (Community) Dispute Resolution Program, JAMS (a large private mediation firm), and the Superior Court of California Los Angeles County ADR office, where the judges observed a demonstration of the office’s computerized mediator database.

The judges also had the opportunity to observe two real mediation sessions conducted by California Academy of Mediation Professionals in the California Superior Court and to discuss the mediation process with the mediators as well as with Superior Court judges.

Pam Matthews uses her film background to direct and produce a 20-minute informational video on ADR for use in the Jordan courts.

Using only local talent, Ms. Matthews managed to produce and direct a local video on ADR. She used local DJ's to do voice-over narrations in Arabic and used local TV production crews to shoot the video at the Palace of Justice, in Amman, Jordan. Editing was done at a local production studio. Matthews states that it was very hard work, since there is no specific training required for job categories in film/video production, but she managed to do just fine with the help of local co-workers and translators. The video is now used throughout the kingdom in court mediation programs. The project was funded by USAID.