Rule 1.6 6. Judicial Discretion in Use of Rules

A judge has the power to send a civil or family law case to alternative dispute resolution, even if the people involved don't ask for it. This means the judge can require the parties to try methods like mediation before the case goes to trial. The judge can apply this to the whole case or just certain parts of it.

However, there's an important limit. If the process would be binding, meaning the outcome is final and enforceable like a court judgment, the judge cannot force this on the parties. Everyone involved must agree to use a binding process. Non-binding methods, where the parties can still go to trial afterward if they aren't satisfied, can be ordered by the judge without anyone's consent.