IN THE CIRCUIT COURT, SIXTH JUDICIAL CIRCUIT
IN AND FOR
ADMINISTRATIVE ORDER NO
RE: JUVENILE DEPENDENCY
MEDIATION APPOINTMENT & COMPENSATION
In order to provide a mechanism pursuant to Florida Rule of Juvenile Procedure 8.290 for the appointment and compensation of juvenile dependency mediators in dependency actions in which the parties are financially unable to compensate the mediator from the party’s own funds; and
In order to continue the guidelines established for
juvenile dependency mediations in Pasco and Pinellas Counties as set out in
Administrative Order PA/PI-CIR-02-37; and
In order to adjust the rate of compensation for mediators
in cases where the State pays the cost for mediation services, as authorized by
§ 44.108, Fla. Stat.; it is hereby
ORDERED:
1. This
administrative order shall apply to mediators appointed to mediate dependency
cases in which the parties are financially unable to compensate the mediator
from the party’s own funds. Each
designated mediator shall execute a contract with the Sixth Judicial
Circuit.
2. Upon a
determination by the court that a party lacks the ability to pay the mediator’s
fee and upon order that mediation services shall be provided by the Sixth
Judicial Circuit, a mediator under contract with the Circuit will be assigned
and the mediator shall be compensated at the rate of three hundred dollars
($300.00) per session, i.e., per scheduled mediation. If the mediator reports an impasse between
the parties or recommends another conference, any subsequent mediation
conference ordered by the court is another session. There shall be no additional compensation for
review of the court file or any other fees or expenses incurred by the mediator
unless provided otherwise by contract with the Sixth Judicial Circuit.
3. The Court may, upon the non-appearance of a party or cancellation with less than forty-eight (48) hours notice, award to the mediator a fee of fifty-dollars ($50.00). A party is considered to have not appeared when he or she is more than thirty (30) minutes late for a mediation conference.
4. Upon motion or request of a party, a court shall not refer any case to mediation if it finds there has been a history of domestic violence that would compromise the mediation process, or for other good cause shown.
5. The
Administrative Office of the Courts shall maintain the list of mediators who
have entered into a contract with the court.
Mediators will be assigned on a rotation basis.
6
DONE AND ORDERED
in Chambers at
____________________________
David A
cc: All Judges
The
Honorable Jed Pittman, Clerk of Court,
The
Honorable Ken Burke, Clerk of Court,
Carol Heath,
Betty Henderson, Assistant Court Services Director, Pasco
County Clerk’s Office
Gay Inskeep, Trial Courts Administrator
Kerry Rice, Deputy Courts Administrator,
Bar
Associations,
Law Libraries,