21.08 Mediator Qualifications
(A) Court-Certified Mediators
(1) The Administrator of the mediation program will maintain the list of mediators who have registered for and been certified by the Presiding Judge of the Chancery Division for appointment. For certification, the applicant must fill out Form 1 and certify that he or she meets one of the following criteria:
(i) Currently a mediator in another State of Illinois Court Annexed Civil Case Mediation Program in Cook County or in another County in the State of Illinois;
(ii) Served as a mediator on at least 10 occasions in major civil cases; or
(iii) Successfully completed mediation training in a program consisting of 30 or more hours of training approved by the Presiding Judge of the Chancery Division of Cook County.
(2) In addition, the applicant must have held an active license to practice law in the State of Illinois for at least 10 years and be one of the following:
(i) A lawyer registered as active and in good standing with the Illinois Attorney Registration and Disciplinary Commission; or
(ii) 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.
(3) Every certified mediator must submit an updated application by June 30th in each odd numbered year.
(B) Mediator General Standards
In each case, the mediator will comply with general standards as may be promulgated in writing by the Presiding Judge of the Chancery Division. During every two year period that a mediator is certified with the court, a certified mediator will complete at least four (4) hours of Cook County Mandatory Arbitration and Mediation Continuing Education Seminars or equivalent CLE seminars to maintain his or her certification. Certified mediators will report the completion of the CLE requirement through a form designated by the court.
(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 Chancery 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.
[Dated July 29, 2013, effective August 1, 2013.]
