As amended through November 4, 2024
Section 4 - Selection of Rule 31A Neutrals(a) Within 15 days of the date of an Order of Reference, with the exception of an Order of Reference for a Judicial Settlement Conference, the parties must notify the Court of the Rule 31A Neutral or Rule 31A Neutrals agreed to by the parties or of their inability to agree on a Rule 31A Neutral or Rule 31A Neutrals.(b) When the parties cannot agree on the selection of a Rule 31A Neutral or Neutrals, the Court shall nominate a Rule 31A Neutral or Neutrals in accordance with the following procedure: (1) In a Rule 31A Proceeding in which a single Rule 31A Neutral will serve, the Court shall designate three Rule 31A Neutrals having the appropriate qualifications as set forth in this Rule and one additional Rule 31A Neutral for each additional party over two.(2) In a Case Evaluation or Non-Binding Arbitration before a panel of three or more Rule 31A Neutrals, the court shall designate three Rule 31A Neutrals, meeting the qualifications as set forth in this for each seat on the panel and one additional Rule 31A Neutral for each seat on the panel for each additional party over two.(3) After receiving the Court's nominations, each party shall strike one name from the Court's list for each Rule 31A Neutral being selected. The Court then shall appoint the remaining Rule 31A Neutral or Neutrals unless a valid and timely objection is made within 10 days of the Court's appointment. In the event the designated Rule 31A Neutral cannot serve, the process will be repeated to the extent necessary.(4) The Court's nomination of Rule 31A Neutrals shall be fairly distributed among those who meet the qualifications set forth in Rule 31A Sections 14-18 of this Rule, unless the matter requires particular expertise not possessed by all who meet those qualifications.