Arbitrators and Adjudicators

7. Massively Parallel Roles & Tasks

Arbitrators and Adjudicators work with legal representatives of contending parties in both private and public settings to resolve disputes about what, exactly, the rule-of-law means in specific situations. Given the complexity of modern societies and legal systems, there are inevitable questions about what exactly the law says with respect to particular disputes. MPP depends upon adjudicators and arbitrators to assure that the applicable legal framework is fairly applied and that everybody enjoys the equal protection of the laws. While public confidence in the judicial system continues to decline alarmingly, it is still more trusted than executive and legislative branches of government. The good news is that there are major efforts to understand and address the sources of public distrust. Efforts to strengthen judicial institutions include a joint effort involving Supreme  Court Justices and state Governors to discuss strategies for overcoming the political division that underlies much of the public's distrust, the American Bar Association's effort to strengthen the justice system, and the Center for American Progress' proposals for strengthening the judiciary. Supporting efforts to improve the judiciary are groups like the American Arbitration Association and JAMS Mediation, Arbitration, and ADR Services which works to make sure that high-quality arbitration (and mediation in the case of JAMS) services continue to be available.

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