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Title 28, Judiciary and Judicial ProcedureRelease 119-110

§653 Neutrals

Title 28 › PART III — COURT OFFICERS AND EMPLOYEES › CHAPTER 44 — ALTERNATIVE DISPUTE RESOLUTION › § 653

Last updated Sep 22, 2026|Official source

Summary

If a district court uses alternative dispute resolution, it must make neutral people available for each type of process it offers and create its own rules for how those neutrals are chosen. Neutrals should be qualified and trained for the specific ADR process. Courts may use magistrate judges, private professional neutrals, or other trained persons. Until rules under chapter 131 cover disqualification, each district court must issue rules under section 2071(a) about when neutrals must be disqualified, including where appropriate under section 455, other laws, and professional conduct rules.

Full Legal Text

Title 28, §653

Judiciary and Judicial Procedure, Source: USLM XML via OLRC

(a)Panel of Neutrals.—
Each district court that authorizes the use of alternative dispute resolution processes shall adopt appropriate processes for making neutrals available for use by the parties for each category of process offered. Each district court shall promulgate its own procedures and criteria for the selection of neutrals on its panels.
(b)Qualifications and Training.—
Each person serving as a neutral in an alternative dispute resolution process should be qualified and trained to serve as a neutral in the appropriate alternative dispute resolution process. For this purpose, the district court may use, among others, magistrate judges who have been trained to serve as neutrals in alternative dispute resolution processes, professional neutrals from the private sector, and persons who have been trained to serve as neutrals in alternative dispute resolution processes. Until such time as rules are adopted under chapter 131 of this title relating to the disqualification of neutrals, each district court shall issue rules under section 2071(a) relating to the disqualification of neutrals (including, where appropriate, disqualification under section 455 of this title, other applicable law, and professional responsibility standards).

Legislative History

Notes & Related Subsidiaries

Editorial Notes

Amendments

1998—Pub. L. 105–315 amended section generally, substituting provisions relating to neutrals in alternative dispute resolution process for provisions relating to powers of arbitrator and arbitration hearing.

Reference

Citations & Metadata

Citation

28 U.S.C. § 653

Title 28, Judiciary and Judicial Procedure

Last Updated

Sep 22, 2026

Release point: 119-110