Appointment of the Mediator

(a) Authority to Appoint. When the parties have agreed to attend mediation, the court shall appoint a mediator provided by a community mediation center, or shall designate a center to appoint a mediator to conduct the mediation. The mediator appointed shall be certified under Rule 7 or shall be working toward certification under the supervision of the center to which the dispute is referred for mediation. (b) Disqualification of the Mediator. For good cause shown, a complainant or defendant may move the court to disqualify the mediator appointed to conduct the mediation. If the mediator is disqualified, then the court shall appoint a new mediator to conduct the mediation. Nothing in this subsection precludes a mediator from disqualifying himself or herself. History Note. 373 N.C. 757.