A person of any nationality may be an arbitrator.
§ 1297.111.Person of Any Nationality
Title 9.3. Arbitration and Conciliation of International Commercial Disputes · Chapter 3. Composition of Arbitral Tribunals · Article 2. Appointment of Arbitrators · Enacted 1988 · no amendments on record · Last verified July 29, 2026
In one sentenceSection 1297.111 provides that a person of any nationality may serve as an arbitrator in an arbitration governed by this title, removing citizenship or residency as a barrier to appointment.
Full Text of § 1297.111
Plain-English Summary
This section removes a barrier that could otherwise complicate international arbitration: nationality. A person of any nationality may serve as an arbitrator under this title, meaning parties are not confined to choosing arbitrators who share their own nationality, live in California, or hold any particular citizenship.
That openness matters in cross-border disputes, where parties often prefer a neutral arbitrator from a country other than either side's own -- precisely the consideration Section 1297.118 later tells a court to weigh when it appoints a sole or third arbitrator itself.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does an arbitrator have to be a California resident or a U.S. citizen?
No -- Section 1297.111 allows a person of any nationality to serve as an arbitrator.
Why does removing a nationality restriction matter for international arbitration?
It lets parties choose a neutral arbitrator from outside either party's own country, which Section 1297.118 later flags as a relevant consideration for a court appointing a sole or third arbitrator.
Amendment History
Added by Stats. 1988, Ch. 23, Sec. 1. Effective March 7, 1988.
Source & verification. Section text is reproduced verbatim from
the Deering's California Codes Annotated / vLex. Enacted by the California Legislature.
Last verified July 29, 2026.
· Official source
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