Rule 20.04 - MEDIATOR QUALIFICATIONSA. General Requirements1. The Chief Judge shall maintain a list of mediators who have been certified by the Circuit Court and who have registered for the appointment. Effective September 19, 2016, for certification in major civil cases, an applicant must: Complete a minimum of 30 hours of mediation training, in a program approved by the Circuit Court, during the one (1) year period prior to application or reapplication for certification as a mediator under these rules; and,
Be a retired judge or be a member in good standing of the Illinois Bar, with at least seven (7) years of practice- in Illinois unless otherwise prescribed by the Illinois Supreme Court, and be actively practicing in the State of Illinois for twelve consecutive months immediately preceding application or reapplication for certification as a mediator under these rules. 2. Submit to the office of the Chief Judge or designee a completed application in a form prescribed by the Circuit Court, which may include information including educational background, areas of practice, and years of practice, etc. By making an application to become certified under these rules, the applicant shall be deemed to have consented to disclosure of the information submitted in connection with his or her application; as well as the nature of cases mediated, number of cases mediated and number of cases settled, and other pertinent information regarding the applicant's qualifications to attorneys or parties involved in litigation to be mediated as well as any other persons to whom disclosure is deemed appropriate by the Circuit Court.3. Mediators certified by the Circuit Court prior to January 1, 2004, shall be considered certified under these rules.B. Continuing Responsibilities as a Certified Mediator In each case, the mediator shall comply with this local rule regarding mediation and such other general standards as may, from time to time, be established and promulgated in writing by the Chief Judge of the Twenty-Second Judicial Circuit.
C. Decertification of Mediators 1. The Chief Judge of the Circuit Court may decertify a mediator previously certified under these rules for any of the following reasons: Revocation or suspension of mediator's license to practice law in the State of Illinois; Failure or refusal of the mediator to comply with this local rule governing mediation or any general standards issued by the Circuit Court regarding mediation; Other unprofessional conduct by the mediator that interferes with the ability of the Circuit Court to provide appropriate mediation services; or The request of the mediator to be decertified. 2. This rule shall be in full force and effect from and after the 15th of January 2012.Ill. R. Cir. Ct. McHenry Cnty. 20.04