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530
Roman Law
Mediation officially began during the Roman era first recorded in Justinian's Digest in 530-533. The practice originated in Ancient Greece. -
Early Quakers
In United States history, mediation's earliest appearance was with a Quaker, Robert Barclay, who was found to have efforts at mediation. He wrote advice to the ambassadors of the several princes of Europe, urging them to give up their evil ways. -
Quaker Influence
The first recorded instance of Quakers being involved as “mediators," was in 1850, when Joseph Sturge and two colleagues tried to bring peace between Denmark and the duchies of Schleswig-Holstein. Although they had personal success, their mission ultimately failed because they did not take into account the global balance of power. -
Tug Fork, Appalachia
A communication problem started to flare up between two neighbors, but all of us know the results from history. The Hatfields and McCoys gained their fame from the killings that resulted from their dispute, some say, over just a hog. -
Chinese immigrants
In New York City, the Chinese Consolidated Benevolent Association (CCBA) was established in 1883. The parent organization of the Chinese Community Center, the CCBA was founded in 1883 and has represented and served the needs of Chinese Americans in New York City ever since. The groups resolve disputes within the family and within the community by mediation. -
Mediation in Law
In the United States alternative dispute resolution (ADR) processes were being formalized as an alternative to litigation early on with the U.S. Department of Labor, established in 1913, appointing a panel called the "commissioners of conciliation" to deal with labor and management disputes. -
Federal Mediation and Conciliation Service
The primary focus of the FMCS was to resolve labor disputes. Cases such as Youngstown Sheet & Tube Co. v. Sawyer show the importance of providing trained neutral parties to resolve heated labor conflicts. The FMCS exists today with a much broader mission that includes aiding federal agencies in developing their own mediation programs. -
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Mediation in the 1970s
In the 1970s, the development of mediation broke off in two distinct directions. One destination was based on the notion that mediation was an extension of the legal system. On this view, many advocates even saw mediation as an effective means of narrowing issues for litigation in courts. The other destination was detached from the legal system, offering mediation as a process that could deliver better results than the adversarial system only because it was separate from the legal bureaucracy. A -
The Roscoe Pound Conference
Roscoe Pound was an influential force in critiquing the legal system early on in American history. The urgent need for alternatives to litigation materialized in the concept of the "Multi-door Courthouse," as well as the contrary notion of the Neighborhood Justice Center. -
The Break-Up (Mediation clip)
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What is Mediation?
