Programs

In Illinois, state trial and appellate courts have traditionally been given flexibility in whether and how to develop ADR programs. The Illinois Supreme Court provides authority and guidelines for the creation of such programs without dictating the exact form that these programs should take. ADR in the courts is generally voluntary, with the exception of the mediation of contested child custody and visitation issues, which is mandatory, with exceptions for specific impediments.

Federal courts have been given similar flexibility in the development of their ADR programs. In Illinois, this flexibility has led to voluntary programs that are either specific to a particular case type or are generalized to most civil cases.

Program information on this site is accessible through three pathways: (1) Jurisdiction, (2) Practice Area, and (3) Process Type. For the purposes of navigating this site, Jurisdiction refers to the division of federal, state, appellate, and local judicial authority in Illinois. Jurisdiction at the local state level is divided into 23 circuits, which may be made up of one or more counties. Appellate courts are divided into five districts. On the federal side, there are three district courts. Practice Area refers to the type of dispute the ADR program seeks to resolve, and Process Type refers to the ADR process the program utilizes to resolve disputes.

Note: While RSI works to maintain comprehensive information, court ADR efforts are dynamic. Updates or suggestions of additional information on court ADR programs in Illinois are welcome. To provide information, contact RSI.