| Federal Court of Australia | |
| Practice Notes issued by the Chief Justice |
| No. 8. Assisted dispute resolution |
| Status: | Revoked |
| Date issued: | 7 May 1990 |
| Date revoked: | 8 April 1994 |
| Version history: |   8 April 1994 7 May 1990 |
The Federal Court offers litigants a system of Court annexed mediation, Assisted Dispute Resolution (ADR), should they wish to avail themselves of it. Parties may request mediation or the Judge might suggest it at the directions hearing. The Federal Court’s system of ADR consists of reference to a Registrar of the Court who sits as a mediator in a confidential conference with the parties. In some circumstances, it may be appropriate for a Judge to conduct the conference. If mediation is successful, the parties may then have their agreement embodied in a consent judgment.
Parties do not lose their hearing priority should they choose the process of mediation. Those conducting the mediation are able to give any directions necessary to ensure this priority is maintained.
NIGEL BOWEN
(Chief Justice)
Federal Court of Australia
7 May 1990