Login | June 21, 2025
Common pleas court invites attorneys to volunteer Settlement Week
Published: June 20, 2025
Jurists operating within the Summit County Court of Common Pleas, General Division will be hosting Settlement Week from Monday, Oct. 20 through Friday, Oct. 24, 2025, at the Summit County Courthouse, located at 209 S. High St. in downtown Akron.
Settlement Week is a court managed program that has proven to be an effective case management tool. The weeklong initiative enhances judicial efficiency by:
• Effectively resolving multiple cases within a brief timeframe;
• Assisting parties in reaching mutually agreeable outcomes through structured mediation; and
• Freeing up court time to focus on more complex cases.
Settlement Week is a bench bar collaboration. Experienced civil trial attorneys interested in volunteering as mediators for this in-person event should complete and submit the Settlement Week Volunteer Mediator Form by Friday, July 11, 2025.
Free mediation training will be offered to volunteer mediators who are registered to participate in Settlement Week 2025. The training will be facilitated by the Supreme Court of Ohio on Friday, October 10, 2025, from 9 a.m. to 12:15 p.m., at the Summit County Courthouse. Legal professionals who complete the training will receive three continuing legal education (CLE) credits.
"The Summit County Court of Common Pleas, General Division, strongly encourages attorneys to take part in Settlement Week 2025," said Judge Mary Margaret Rowlands. "This initiative offers a unique opportunity to resolve cases efficiently and effectively, enhancing outcomes for clients while promoting a collaborative legal community. Join us in making a difference!"
Summit County Court of Common Pleas, General Division invites attorneys to volunteer as mediators during Settlement Week 2025
Efforts will be made to connect experienced trial lawyers with cases associated with their specializations, such as contract disputes, personal injury, property disputes, and workers' compensation cases.
“Settlement Week complements the work being performed by the Summit County Court of Common Pleas, General Division Mediation Program and the Office of Backlog Reduction,” added Judge Rowlands. "The more civil cases that can be settled through these combined dispute-resolution efforts, the more time judges will have to meet the demands of their criminal caseloads.”
Attorneys who would like to have their civil cases assigned to the Settlement Week 2025 roster are being asked to complete and submit the Settlement Week Case Request Form by Friday, Aug. 1, 2025.
For more information about Settlement Week 2025 visit https://www.summitcpcourt.net/settlementweek/.
To learn more about resolving disputes through case mediation, visit https//www.supremecourt.ohio.gov/opinions-cases/clerk-of-court/case-mediation/.