Guam JUDICIARY’S Mediation Pilot Projects

Two ongoing pilot projects invited by Guam’s Supreme Court plus another being considered by Guam’s Family Court judges involve mediation referrals to Inafa’ Maolek.

A Child Custody Mediation pilot project, with court rules developed under leadership by Associate Supreme Court Justice Francis Tydingco Gatewood, was commenced in 2005.

During summer 2006 a Civil Case Mediation Pilot was initiated under leadership of Guam’s Chief Justice Phil Carbullido. Cases with plaintiffs demanding $50,00 or less will, at the discretion of administrative Judges Michael Bordallo, be referred to Inafa’ Maolek.

Pro Tempore Judge Linda Ingles and Judge Katherine A. Maraman have envisioned for Guam’s child welfare cases a restorative group conferencing program similar to the Ohana Group Conferencing program in Hawaii. Hawaii’s Arlynna Henderson will fly to Guam to provide training on the Ohana program during the Inafa’ Maolek PEACEMAKER CONFERENCE Feb. 1-3, 2007. Thereafter, dependency cases (abuse or neglect) could be referred for group conferencing as part of a new pilot project.