The Oklahoma Bar Journal March 2025

Early Settlement program directors. Front row, from left Julie Easley, East program; Jorjia Cash, East Central program; Jaxie Johnston, South Central program; Ever Vidana, Northeast program; Sarah Head, Southwest program; and Associate State Director Lauren O’Brien, Oklahoma County program. Back row, from left State Director Phil Johnson; Michael Nalley, Northwest program; Stacy Horner, West program; LeiLani Armstrong, Tulsa program; Jay Irby, North program; and Tylnn Childress, Central program. (Not pictured: Regan Glinton, Southeast program)

through the Early Settlement Mediation program. Statistics, over time, have shown that three out of five marriages in Oklahoma end in divorce, and Oklahoma ranked as high as second in the nation for divorce rate. Family and divorce mediation requires more office time for case management, as each party must complete a pre-mediation interview to screen for potential domestic violence. Volunteer medi ators are required to complete an additional 40-hour training to

The types of cases resolved by mediation through Early Settlement include, but are not limited to, small claims/civil, child custody, divorce, adult guardian ship, child permanency, parent/ school, real estate and neighbors. They may involve money, property, personal relationships, harassment, neighborhood disturbances, child permanency or other matters. In 1996, the Oklahoma Supreme Court approved the implementation of family and divorce mediation

Resolution System. The state director of the Alternative Dispute Resolution System manages the pro gram operations, which are based out of the Administrative Office of the Courts. Annual renewable grants are awarded to the spon soring agencies by the administra tive director of the courts, which provide funding for the regional Early Settlement Mediation pro gram expenses. Program sponsors include regional universities and county governments.

Statements or opinions expressed in the Oklahoma Bar Journal are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect those of the Oklahoma Bar Association, its officers, Board of Governors, Board of Editors or staff.

MARCH 2025 | 41

THE OKLAHOMA BAR JOURNAL