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A Message from the Judges of the U.S. District Court
      Why does the court offer ADR?

      It is the mission of this court to do everything it can to help parties resolve their disputes as fairly, quickly and efficiently as possible. The cases filed in our court present a wide range of issues and circumstances. No single process can be expected to meet the needs of all of these cases.

      While traditional litigation can serve parties' interests well in some situations, many cases have needs that can be better met through other procedures. We offer a wide selection of non-binding alternative dispute resolution (ADR) option -- each of which provides different kinds of services -- so that parties can use the procedure that best fits the particular circumstances of their case.

      ADR processes can offer numerous advantages over both formal litigation and direct negotiations between the parties. In contrast to formal litigation and direct negotiations, ADR procedures may lead to resolutions that are:
      • faster
      • less expensive
      • more creative
      • better tailored to all parties' underlying interests

      We urge you to consider using an ADR process in any civil case, at any time. The court's professional ADR staff, which includes attorneys with expertise in ADR procedures, is available to help you select a suitable option or to customize an ADR procedure to meet your needs. Our ADR processes, which are governed by the court's ADR Local Rules, are available in each civil case, regardless of whether the case was assigned to a particular ADR process at filing.

      This website informs you about:
      • the benefits of ADR
      • available ADR options
      • selecting an appropriate ADR process
      • procedures in ADR processes

      To help ensure that you make informed choices, the court requires, under Civil Local Rule 16, that every attorney and client certify that they have read the handbook entitled "Dispute Resolution Procedures in the Northern District of California" (available from the clerk's office), the contents of which appear on this website, and considered the ADR options. Reading the handbook is not a substitute for understanding the ADR Local Rules which also appear on this website. Be sure to consult the rules when selecting and participating in an ADR process.

      We have committed substantial resources to our ADR program because we are confident that litigants who use them conscientiously can save significant money and time and will often obtain more satisfying results.

      Vaughn R. Walker
      Chief Judge
      For all the Judges of the Court

      See ADR LR 1-2
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