AAA Judicial Panel

High-level, diverse retired judges on the AAA Judicial Panel bring another level of caliber to the arbitrator or mediator role. The panel is comprised of 346 former federal and state judges, including trial and appellate jurists, from 47 states plus the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico.

For those cases that require in-depth industry and technical expertise, the AAA provides specialty panels of the National Roster of Arbitrators and Mediators. However, the best “judge” of an arbitration often is a former judge. Judges* are decisive and used to making tough decisions and picking a winner. Similarly, the best facilitator of a mediation can be a former judge, with strong, fair settlement capabilities.

Best of Both Worlds

The former judge has a unique perspective on litigation issues as well as a deep understanding
of alternative dispute resolution (ADR).
Judges are able to move cases through expeditiously due to case-management mastery
attained by clearing heavy court dockets.
Judges have state and federal law knowledge and experience in dealing with a multitude of
case types.
Judges have public track records. Parties are privy to judges’ reputations and records of their
rulings and their predilections.
Parties can choose their judges, a luxury not available in court litigation.
Judges have insight into the result of a potential litigation and can offer parties invaluable
evaluative input.

*Judges will refer to “former judges” for the purpose of this panel.

A Thought for Counsel

Sometimes a less-than-favorable award may cause parties to second-guess the choice of arbitration over litigation. You can feel comfortable knowing that your arbitrator is an actual judge who has insight into a likely outcome in litigation.

For more information, please fill out the contact form to the right.

Arbitrations

6,823 Judicial Panel appointments
$20 billion total claims and counterclaims arbitrated
Representative industries include accounting, advertising, agriculture, asbestos, automotive, cannabis, commercial and residential construction, energy, entertainment, financial services, franchise, healthcare, hospitality, insurance, legal services, pharmaceuticals, real estate, sports, technology, telecommunications, and transportation. Judicial panelists also frequently are selected to arbitrate consumer, employment, and labor cases.

Mediations

374 Judicial Panel appointments
$1.5 billion total claims and counterclaims mediated
Representative industries include asbestos, commercial and residential construction, financial services, franchise, healthcare, real estate, and technology. Judicial panelists also frequently are selected to mediate employment and mass claims caseloads.

What do former judges believe are the most compelling assets they bring to the table?

Knowing the rules of evidence In an arbitration of an eight-figure contract dispute between a national, high-volume e-retailer and a large warehouse company, knowing how the parol evidence rule should be applied and where intent of the parties to the contract was at issue saved many days of arbitration and led to an expeditious determination of the merits. Being a judge and comfortably making evidentiary rulings is important to the arbitration process, but I have also found judicial knowledge of the practical application of the rules of evidence to be extremely helpful in mediating disputes because it allows me to credibly explain what is likely to happen in the trial of a case. - Former U.S. District Court Judge	*Evaluative mediation skills* After a full day of mediation of the dissolution of several real estate partnerships, the parties were still several $100,000 apart in their respective settlement positions. But with enough movement generated, both sides agreed to have me prepare a written mediator’s proposal as a final step in the mediation process. Utilizing my 20 years of experience as a state trial judge, I drafted a six-page mediator’s proposal analyzing the strengths and weaknesses of each side’s position if the case were to continue in litigation and proposing a detailed resolution of the dispute. Both sides ultimately accepted my mediator’s proposal as the basis for a final settlement. - Former Circuit Court Judge
Skilled in moving cases along Former Superior Court Judges are particularly well suited for cases grounded on legal principles, such as validity of contracts, employee vs independent contractor status, and product defect liability. In my case, having sat as a civil independent calendar judge, I have had the opportunity to study and be schooled on many different and complex legal concepts through both my law and motion calendars and trial. - Former Superior Court Judge	Facilitative mediation skills I have found that the ability to listen with discernment acquired during my bench service has been invaluable during challenging arbitrations and mediations. It is part of a lawyer’s craft to influence and persuade judges, arbitrators, and mediators. Therefore a necessary part of arbitrating and mediating is the ability to see what is really happening—what the question really is—and to respond in an appropriate and neutral way. - Former Circuit Court Judge
Experience handling pro se parties My experience as a judge handling pro se litigants impressed on me the importance of treating the pro per with respect and complete fairness and also gave me a better understanding of practical ways to deal with these parties so that the proceedings progressed with efficiency and integrity. - Former Superior Court Judge	One of my more challenging mediations was a personal injury matter in which both parties arrived with fixed, intransigent positions. My settlement conference experience as a judge helped me settle this case to each party’s satisfaction. - Former Municipal Court Judge

What do former judges believe are the most compelling assets they bring to the table?

Knowing the rules of evidence
In an arbitration of an eight-figure contract dispute between a national, high-volume e-retailer and a large warehouse company, knowing how the parol evidence rule should be applied and where intent of the parties to the contract was at issue saved many days of arbitration and led to an expeditious determination of the merits. Being a judge and comfortably making evidentiary rulings is important to the arbitration process, but I have also found judicial knowledge of the practical application of the rules of evidence to be extremely helpful in mediating disputes because it allows me to credibly explain what is likely to happen in the trial of a case.
- Former U.S. District Court Judge

Skilled in moving cases along
Former Superior Court Judges are particularly well suited for cases grounded on legal principles, such as validity of contracts, employee vs independent contractor status, and product defect liability. In my case, having sat as a civil independent calendar judge, I have had the opportunity to study and be schooled on many different and complex legal concepts through both my law and motion calendars and trial.
- Former Superior Court Judge

Experience handling pro se parties
My experience as a judge handling pro se litigants impressed on me the importance of treating the pro per with respect and complete fairness and also gave me a better understanding of practical ways to deal with these parties so that the proceedings progressed with efficiency and integrity.
- Former Superior Court Judge

Evaluative mediation skills
After a full day of mediation of the dissolution of several real estate partnerships, the parties were still several $100,000 apart in their respective settlement positions. But with enough movement generated, both sides agreed to have me prepare a written mediator’s proposal as a final step in the mediation process. Utilizing my 20 years of experience as a state trial judge, I drafted a six-page mediator’s proposal analyzing the strengths and weaknesses of each side’s position if the case were to continue in litigation and proposing a detailed resolution of the dispute. Both sides ultimately accepted my mediator’s proposal as the basis for a final settlement.
- Former Circuit Court Judge

Facilitative mediation skills
I have found that the ability to listen with discernment acquired during my bench service has been invaluable during challenging arbitrations and mediations. It is part of a lawyer’s craft to influence and persuade judges, arbitrators, and mediators. Therefore a necessary part of arbitrating and mediating is the ability to see what is really happening—what the question really is—and to respond in an appropriate and neutral way.
- Former Circuit Court Judge

One of my more challenging mediations was a personal injury matter in which both parties arrived with fixed, intransigent positions. My settlement conference experience as a judge helped me settle this case to each party’s satisfaction.
- Former Municipal Court Judge