Court-ordered Civil Case Mediation in North Carolina

Book excerpt: In 1991 the North Carolina General Assembly enacted legislation that required the state's Administrative Office of the Courts (AOC) to conduct a pilot program in superior court to determine if the Mediated Settlement Conference (MSC) program would improve the operation of superior courts, making them more efficient, less expensive, and more satisfying to the litigants. The AOC asked the Institute of Government to conduct a study to evaluate the MSC program. This publication describes the study's results. The report indicates that the program has achieved some of its objectives but could be even more effective.