The Supreme Court of North Carolina has adopted new rule amendments that affect trial court practice and procedure, arbitration, and mediation in North Carolina. The eight rule sets affected by the amendments are:

• General Rules of Practice for the Superior and District Courts
  (Rule 6, “Motions in Civil Actions”)
• Rules for Court-Ordered Arbitration
  (Rule 6, “Arbitration Hearings”)
• Rules of the Dispute Resolution Commission
  (Rule 10, “The Mediator Certification and Training Committee”)
• Standards of Professional Conduct for Mediators
  (Standard 3, “Confidentiality”)
• Rules for Mediated Settlement Conferences and Other Settlement Procedures in Superior Court Civil Actions
  (Rule 4, “Duties of Parties, Attorneys, and Other Participants in Mediated Settlement Conferences”)
  (Rule 8, “Mediator Certification and Decertification”)
  (Rule 9, “Certification of Mediation Training Programs”)
  (Rule 10, “Other Settlement Procedures”)
  (Rule 15, “Definitions”)
• Rules for Settlement Procedures in District Court Family Financial Cases
  (Rule 4, “Duties of Parties, Attorneys, and Other Participants in Mediated Settlement Conferences”)
  (Rule 8, “Mediator Certification and Decertification”)
  (Rule 9, “Certification of Mediation Training Programs”)
• Rules of Mediation for Matters Before the Clerk of Superior Court
  (Rule 4, “Duties of Parties, Attorneys, and Other Participants in Mediations”)
• Rules of Mediation for Matters in District Criminal Court
  (Rule 7, “Mediator Certification and Decertification”)

The Supreme Court’s amendment to Rule 6 of the General Rules of Practice for the Superior and District Courts, “Motions in Civil Actions,” is effective on 1 September 2021. The amendments to the arbitration and mediation rules are effective on 1 October 2021.

The Supreme Court’s orders amending the rules are available at the links above. If you have questions about the Supreme Court’s rulemaking process, please contact the Supreme Court’s Office of Administrative Counsel by email at rules@sc.nccourts.org.