General

(A) Voluntary participation A court shall not mandate that parties in a civil stalking protection order case use (1) mediation. The parties in a civil stalking protection order case shall knowingly and voluntarily (2) participate in mediation based on informed consent; free from coercion or intimidation; and absent from coercive, controlling, or abusive conduct. (B) Fees and costs A court of common pleas shall not assess to the petitioner any fees or costs in connection with the mediation of a civil stalking protection order case. (C) Mediation environment A court of common pleas shall take reasonable precautions to create a safe mediation environment for the parties. (D) Education and training A mediator appointed to a mediate civil stalking protection order case shall comply with the education and training requirements of Sup.R. 16.23. RULES 16.33 through 16.39 are reserved for future use