The Multi-Tasking Judge Comparative Judicial Dispute Resolution

The Multi-Tasking Judge brings together a series of papers written by international experts in the field of judicial dispute resolution. They arise from an International Research Collaborative (IRC) in Comparative Judicial Dispute Resolution sponsored by the International law and Society Association. By the term “judicial dispute resolution”, the experts refer to the work undertaken by judges to engage in settlement processes for civil litigation, including judicial conciliation and mediation.

A particular focus of the IRC in Judicial Dispute Resolution is surveying judicial activities regarding judicial dispute resolution in a number of countries, reflecting on that information and suggesting trends, aspirations and future developments. Therefore, the jurisdictional inputs in this significant book range from The Netherlands, Canada, the United States, the People’s Republic of China, and Australia. The Chapters describe, analyse and critique the processes and practices used in these diverse environments, positing that the uptake and development of judicial dispute resolution is the result of a complex mix of factors.

This significant book presents important theoretical discussion as well as qualitative and quantitative studies, which consider judicial dispute resolution from a range of perspectives. Importantly, for the future, survey instruments included in the book have been designed by a panel of highly regarded experts that can be used to develop and extend our understanding of this important facet of judicial work.

Editors, Professors Tania Sourdin and Archie Zariski are joint leaders of the IRC in Comparative Judicial Dispute Resolution. Tania Sourdin is a Professor of Law at Monash University, Australia, and Director of the Australian Centre for Justice Innovation (ACJI). She has extensive experience in the litigation system, court processes and alternative dispute resolution (ADR), and her career has included numerous and extensive qualitative and quantitative reviews of tribunals and courts as well as external dispute resolution services. She has worked across Australia, the Pacific region and the United Arab Emirates in the area of judicial dispute resolution and is Editor of the Australasian Dispute Resolution Service (Thomson Reuters).

Archie Zariski is an Associate Professor in Legal Studies at Athabasca University, Canada, and the Foundation Editor of eLaw– Murdoch University Electronic Journal of Law. He is currently engaged in empirical research into mediation in Malaysia. He draws upon both quantitative and qualitative studies to envisage a form of judicial practice that places informal dispute resolution firmly within the judicial role.

Judges, judicial officers and administrators, legal practitioners, students and comparative experts will find this book a thought-provoking and invaluable resource.