Stressing the importance of providing alternatives to contested litigation in family law matters, Probate and Family Court Chief Justice Sean M. Dunphy today announced the appointment of Christine W. Yurgelun as Coordinator of Court-Connected Dispute Resolution Services for the Probate and Family Court Department. She will work within the Administrative Office of the court and will be responsible for developing and managing statewide policies and procedures to ensure the delivery of high quality dispute resolution services throughout the state.

          Chief Justice Dunphy stated: "Disputes coming to the Probate and Family Court are often complex or emotionally-charged, and may be best addressed by having an alternative to the adversarial process of litigation. For example, providing parties with an opportunity to develop their own solutions is very important to their continuing role as parents. This newly-created position reflects this department's on-going commitment to making ADR available as a fundamental component of the courts' services to the public and my strong support of ADR initiatives and applications within this department. "

          Christine Yurgelun's primary responsibilities will include the development of policies and procedures for the Probate and Family Court pursuant to SJC Rule 1:18, Uniform Rules on Dispute Intervention; the review of applications from programs requesting approval to receive court referrals; and the development of written procedures and policies governing program operations, referrals, appointments, complaints and data collection which will enable evaluation of programs, referrals and appointments. She will represent the court in all matters concerning the development of dispute resolution alternatives.

          As Coordinator of Court-Connected Dispute Resolution Services, Christine Yurgelun will provide guidance and assistance, at the direction of the Chief Justice, to judges, Local Dispute Resolution Coordinators, other court personnel, program directors and lawyers in order to maintain an appropriate balance between statewide uniformity of services and recognition of local needs. In addition, she will coordinate the development of informational programs and written materials concerning court-connected dispute resolution services for court staff, providers, appointees and the public in order to promote the awareness of ADR options and the understanding that ADR services complement, but do not substitute for, legal counsel.

          Christine Yurgelun serves on the Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court Standing Committee on Dispute Resolution, and the Qualifications and Implementation Sub-Committees. She has served as faculty for the Standing Committee's Court-Connected ADR training programs and has served as a mediator, court coordinator, program administrator and/or trainer for court-connected programs in Salem, Peabody, Boston, Orleans, Barnstable and Falmouth, as well as in Connecticut and Maine. She was editor of the 1997 Directory of Massachusetts Alternative Dispute Resolution Providers (published by the Boston Bar Association); editor of A Consumer Guide to Selecting a Mediator (published by the New England Chapter of the Society of Professionals in Dispute Resolution); and a contributor to the Community Mediation Training Manual (published by the Massachusetts Association of Mediation Programs and Practitioners).

          She is a graduate of Smith College and the Marshall-Wythe School of Law (College of William and Mary) and became a member of the Massachusetts Bar in 1988. She resides in Orleans, MA.