24.08 Mediator Qualifications
(a) Court-Certified Mediators
1. The Presiding Judge of the Probate Division shall maintain a list of mediators who have been certified by the court and who have registered for appointment. The Presiding Judge may appoint an advisory committee of other judges, members of the bar, and/or others to assist in the implementation of these rules.
In order to be considered for certification by the Presiding Judge as a mediator in the Probate Division of Cook County the applicant must meet any one of the following criteria:
a.) The applicant shall certify that he or she is currently a mediator in another State of Illinois Court Annexed Major Civil Case Mediation Program in Cook County or in another County in the State of Illinois;
b.) The applicant shall certify that he or she is currently a mediator in a program approved by the Presiding Judge of the Probate Division of Cook County;
c.) The applicant shall certify that he or she has served as a mediator on at least ten (10) occasions in major probate cases;
d.) The applicant shall certify that he or she has practiced in the Cook County Probate Division for no less than ten (10) years and has been lead counsel in no less than ten (10) contested probate matters;
e.) The applicant shall certify to having successfully completed mediator training in a program consisting of forty (40) hours of training approved by the Presiding Judge of the Probate Division of Cook County;
f.) The applicant shall certify to having experience in the practice of law as a lawyer for at least fifteen (15) years and to having successfully completed at least a thirty (30) hour mediation program sponsored or approved by the Presiding Judge of the Probate Division of Cook County;
g.) The applicant shall certify to having served as a judge in the Circuit Court of Cook County for at least fifteen (15) years;
h.) The applicant shall certify that he or she has been approved by the Center for Conflict Resolution.
2. In addition, the applicant must have held an active license to practice law in the State of Illinois for at least seven (7) years and be one of the following:
a.) A lawyer registered as active and in good standing with the Illinois Attorney Registration and Disciplinary Commission; or
b.) A retired judge or retired lawyer registered as retired or inactive to practice law and in good standing with the Illinois Attorney Registration and Disciplinary Commission.
(b) Mediator General Standards
In each case the mediator shall comply with such general standards as may from time to time, be established and promulgated in writing by the Presiding Judge of the Probate Division. The Presiding Judge may from time to time, revise these Rules by amending Rule 21.08 to include continued legal education for all court-certified mediators.
(c) Decertification of Mediators
The eligibility of each mediator to retain the status of a certified mediator may be periodically reviewed by the Presiding Judge of the Probate Division. Failure to adhere to these Rules governing mediation or the general standards provided for above may result in the decertification of the mediator by the Presiding Judge.
(d) Mediator Pro Bono Requirement
Each court-certified mediator shall agree to mediate one case without compensation when a court has determined that mediation might be beneficial and that none of the parties has the resources to compensate a mediator.
