Nothing in the Choice in Mediation Act shall impair the authority of trial courts or appellate courts of this state to establish or continue in effect programs for mediation of disputes within their jurisdiction or for conducting court-ordered settlement conferences.
§ 1839.Authority of the Courts - Court-Ordered Settlement Conferences
Chapter 38A: Choice in Mediation Act · Not amended since adoption on record · Last verified August 3, 2026
In one sentencePreserves trial and appellate courts' existing authority to run their own mediation programs or hold court-ordered settlement conferences, regardless of anything in the Choice in Mediation Act.
Full Text of § 1839
Amendment History
Added by Laws 2002, HB 1939, c. 468, §19, eff. 11/1/2002.
Plain-English Summary
Section 1839 leaves the courts' own authority untouched. Nothing in the Choice in Mediation Act impairs the authority of a trial or appellate court to establish or continue a program for mediating disputes within its jurisdiction, or to conduct court-ordered settlement conferences.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does this act limit what courts can already do about mediation?
No -- it doesn't impair a trial or appellate court's authority to run its own mediation program.
Can a judge still order a settlement conference under this law?
Yes -- the act preserves the courts' authority "for conducting court-ordered settlement conferences."
Does the Choice in Mediation Act require every court to run a mediation program?
No -- it only preserves a court's existing authority to establish or continue one; it doesn't require any court to have one.
Source & verification. Section text is reproduced verbatim from
Title 12 of the Oklahoma Statutes, enacted by the Oklahoma Legislature.
Last verified August 3, 2026.
· Official source
Also known as: court ordered settlement conference oklahomadoes choice in mediation act limit judges12 O.S. § 1839