US Magistrate Judges on the Art of Settlement*

A Webinar

Tuesday, June 22, 2021

12:00-01:00 CDT
17:00-18:00 UTC

Presented by: Hon. Nancy Johnson (Ret.), USMJ S.D. Tex.

Hon. Sidney I. Schenkier (Ret.), USMJ N.D. Ill.
Hon. Donald G. Wilkerson (Ret.), USMJ S.D. Ill.

TIMED AGENDA

All times Central

Daylight (USA)

Noon-12:05 Introduction of Speakers and Framing the Issue

12:05-12:20 A Process, Not an Event: Setting up Mediation Day for Success

• Thinking about venue/format, e.g., in-person, virtual, hybrid
• Pre-session conferences and submissions
• Using opening statements to further settlement goals

12:20-12:30 Thinking About the “Endgame” Right From the Start

• Using the party caucus to effectively manage client expectations

12:30-12:50 Breaking Impasse

• Useful closing techniques

12:50-1:00 Q&A
• Moderated by webinar chat

* 1-hour general skills CLE certification pending in, CA, IL, MO, NY, TX.
SUGGESTED RESOURCES:

• How Mediation Can Help Parties Overcome Emotional Barriers, Schenkier, Law360
(December 12, 2020).
• Reflections on 21 Years Behind the Bench: An Interview with Magistrate Judge Sidney I.
Schenkier, Litigation Journal (American Bar Association) (May 21, 2020).
• Magistrate Judges’ Important Role in Settling Cases, Denlow, The Federal Lawyer
(May/June 2014).
• Client Preparation for Successful Mediation, Denlow, Morton.
• Six Steps to Effective Zoom Mediation, Denlow, CBA Record (Nov./Dec. 2020).
• Why Virtual Mediation is Here to Stay, Welsh, The Legal Intelligencer (Jan. 5, 2021).
• Baker, Tim A. Sizing Up Settlement: How Much Do The Merits of a Dispute Really
Matter? 24 Harv. Negot. L. Rev. 253 (2018-2019).
• Johnson, Nancy. Reaching Across the Table: A Discussion with Experienced Mediators.
The Houston Lawyer, Vol. 58, No. 4 (January/February 2021).
• Johnson, Nancy. Practice Tips for Settlement Conferences Before U.S. Magistrate
Judges. The Houston Lawyer, Vol. 58, No. 4 (January/February 2021).