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Northern Mariana Islands Rules of Alternative Dispute Resolution – 2026

Court-ordered mediation in the Commonwealth's civil cases, effective December 13, 2021 and known as the NMI Rules of Alternative Dispute Resolution. Rule 1 applies them to all civil actions except small claims and family law matters, and not to criminal actions. Thirty-two rules covering which actions are submitted to mediation, exemption and the amount in controversy, selection and qualification of mediators and the registry of court-approved mediators, mediator standards of conduct and immunity, fees and financial accommodations for indigent parties, confidentiality and what mediation evidence is admissible, sanctions for non-appearance, reporting the result, and enforcement of a settlement as a judgment. Rule 30 addresses other types of ADR.

Browse all 32 rules of the 2026 edition below. Each rule includes the full text, a plain-English summary, committee notes, amendment history, and cross-references to related rules. Use the search box to find rules by keyword or number.

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Rule 1 Title and Authority Rule 2 Definitions Rule 3 Actions to be Submitted to Mediation Rule 4 Initiating Mediation Rule 5 Initial Case Management Conference & Mediation Rule 6 Stay of Actions Ordered to Mediation Rule 7 Exemption from Mediation Rule 8 Amount in Controversy Rule 9 Order for Mediation Rule 10 Selection of Mediator Rule 11 Registry of Court-Approved Mediators Rule 12 Qualifications of Mediators Rule 13 Mediator Standards of Conduct Rule 14 Mediator Fees & Expenses Rule 15 Costs of Mediation & Financial Requirements Rule 16 Relief from Court-Ordered Mediation Rule 17 Financial Accommodations for Indigent Parties Rule 18 Failure to Comply with Financial Requirements Rule 19 Conduct of Mediation Rule 20 Mediator Immunity Rule 21 Evidence Admissible Rule 22 Evidence Not Admissible Rule 23 Confidentiality of Mediation and Communications in the Course of Mediation Rule 24 Sanctions for Non-Appearance at Mediation Rule 25 Termination of Mediation Rule 26 Reporting Mediation Result to Trial Court Rule 27 Annual Reporting to Supreme Court Rule 28 Enforcement of Settlement as Judgment Rule 29 Post-Mediation Case Management Conference Rule 30 Other Types of ADR Rule 31 Forms and Revision Rule 32 Repeal; Tolling