Mediation an Gerichten

Mediation an Gerichten in Niedersachsen

Bis zum 28.02.2005 war Konsens e.V. Trägerverein für das von der Klosterkammer Hannover geförderte und in Kooperation mit dem Nds. Justizministerium durchgeführte “Projekt gerichtsnahe Mediation” an 6 Projektstandorten (AG Hildesheim, AG Oldenburg, LG Göttingen, LG Hannover; SG Hannover; VG Hannover) in Nds. Im Rahmen dieses Projekts wurde den Parteien eines gerichtlichen Verfahrens durch die Justiz neben der richterlichen Streitentscheidung und dem richterlichen Vergleich eine dritte Möglichkeit der Beilegung des zur Rede stehenden Konflikts angeboten: die Einigung der Parteien auf eine abschließende und nachhaltige Lösung des Konflikts im Rahmen einer Mediation unter Mitwirkung eines für diese Aufgabe besonders ausgebildeten Richters, der keine Entscheidungsbefugnisse hinsichtlich des anhängigen Rechtsstreits hat.


	Projektkonzeption Statistik Abschlussbericht


	Das Modellprojekt wurde abgeschlossen, Mediationsangebot kann an manchen Projektstandorten weiterhin in Anspruch genommen werden.

Basic Information in English - Lower Saxony’s Court Annexed Mediation Project

In times of ever growing judicial caseloads and budgetary restraints, European juridical policy is focusing more and more on mediation as an especially appropriate and innovative means of resolving disputes outside of the court system. Therefore in early 2002, the then Minister of Justice of Lower Saxony, Prof. Dr. Christian Pfeiffer, decided to establish the project Court Annexed Mediation in Lower Saxony, founded on the ideas of Prof. Dr. Walter Gottwald from Luneburg.

In terms of its scope, this project is unique in the whole of Germany. In six Courts of Lower Saxony, i.e. two County Courts, two District Courts, one Administrative Court and one Social Welfare Court, the potential and the limitations of mediation will be assessed over a period of three years.

Within this framework, the process of mediation is offered to the parties as an option in addition to the traditional ways of resolving their disputes through formal judicial judgement or settlement. In this way, even ongoing lawsuits can be directed towards an amicable solution through mediation. Since Sept. 1^st, 2002, specially trained judges of the Project courts offer the parties and their lawyers the option of resolving their conflict through mediation. It is understood by all that, should the mediation fail, the judges may not preside over the cases they have tried to mediate.

When acting as judge-mediators, the participating judges may neither adjudicate the disputes nor offer legal advice. Each party has the opportunity to present his or her views to the mediator and to the other party. As a result of everyone developing a fuller understanding of both sides perspectives, the parties can explore possible outcomes that serve what both sides consider important. In this way, the parties are in the position to reach a result that is not based principally on what happened in the past, but rather on what will serve them both best for the future, including any possible future relationship.

In addition, the other judges of the Project courts who will not serve as mediators are being trained to the largest possible extent to play the role of gatekeepers. They have the important tasks of identifying cases appropriate for mediation, informing the parties and their lawyers about the existing court mediation options and suggesting court annexed mediation to the parties. The parties and their lawyers may also raise the issue of mediation on their own initiative.

The Project has worked closely with the Center for Mediation in Law, with the Center having conducted specialized training for the judge mediators as well as a overall mediation training for lawyers and other professionals organized by the Project.

The results of the Project are being assessed by way of simultaneously conducted economic and social research. This research will reveal if and in which case constellations court annexed mediation offers a sensible further option in addition to existing court procedures and in which way the program can be organized most efficiently.