The Connecticut Judicial Branch has opened two Judicial Mediation Centers within courthouses, one in Waterbury and one in Hartford. They are available for civil and family cases.

Judges from across the state, many trained in mediation at Quinnipiac University School of Law, are available to conduct mediation. And the Hartford center has a dedicated full-time Judge on staff.

The centers have been set up to create a collaborative tone and for ease of use. So they have oval tables, which are more egalitarian than the standard square ones. And they are available for meeting times outside regular courthouse hours.

The centers are available for civil or family matters from any Connecticut Judicial District. To date, over 300 sessions have been scheduled. That’s a great sign.