IDAHO FOURTH DISTRICT COURT MEDIATION SERVICES
ETHICAL GUIDELINES
ADA COUNTY SMALL CLAIMS COURT MEDIATION PROGRAM
The Idaho Fourth District Court governs the Ada County Small Claims Court Mediation
Program; these guidelines are operational through this program. These guidelines are in
addition to the state recognized guidelines of the Idaho Mediation Association. All court-
connected mediators are expected to review and abide by the following guidelines.
v A MEDIATOR must disclose any potential conflict of interest with the parties
even if in the mediator’s judgment the relationship is so remote as not to warrant
disqualification to serve. The duty is to disclose. The parties have a right to
select to continue with the process or not.
v A MEDIATOR shall act in a neutral matter. He or she will mediate only those
matters in which it is possible to remain impartial and balanced. If at any time the
mediator is unable to conduct the process in an impartial manner the mediator is
obligated to disqualify him or herself.
v A MEDIATOR shall act in a professional and courteous manner treating co-
mediators, program interns or volunteers, as well as court staff members and all
clients with respect and dignity.
v A MEDIATOR must honor the promise to keep process discussion confidential.
Mediators will encourage clients to practice confidentiality with respect to
conversations developed during the mediation.
v A MEDIATOR must never offer legal advice during any part of the mediation
process associated with this program.
v A MEDIATOR shall not participate or sign an agreement that the mediator
believes goes against the law, public policy or is fraudulent.
v A MEDIATOR has the duty to terminate any mediation where a threat of
physical violence has been made during the mediation process. All such threats
must be reported to the Mediation Coordinator. All parties must be informed of
this during the monologue phase of the process.
v A MEDIATOR will immediately cancel the me