Matters subject to arbitration

(a) All civil cases commenced in the district courts, unless otherwise exempted by NAR 5 , are subject to the program. (b) Any civil case, regardless of the amount in controversy or relief sought, may be submitted to the program upon the agreement of all parties and the approval of the district judge to whom the case is assigned. (c) While a case is in the program, the parties may stipulate or the court may order that a settlement conference, mediation proceeding, or other appropriate settlement technique be conducted by another district judge, a senior judge, or a special master. The parties’ stipulation must be approved by the district judge to whom the case is assigned or, in districts with an arbitration judge, by the arbitration judge. The settlement procedure conducted pursuant to this subsection shall not extend the timetable set forth in these rules for resolving cases in the program. (d) Parties to cases submitted or ordered to the program may agree at any time to be bound by any arbitration ruling or award. If the parties agree to be bound by the decision of the arbitrator, the procedures set forth in these rules governing trials de novo will not apply to the case. [Added; effective July 1, 1992; amended; effective July 26, 2024.]