NCJ Number
130235
Date Published
1991
Length
48 pages
Annotation
This brief history of the American Arbitration Association (AAA) demonstrates that the AAA has been an educational force, a service provider, and a catalyst for involving community peacemakers.
Abstract
The review covers the history of arbitration in the United States, the early years of the AAA, AAA's activities during World War II, ongoing expansion of AAA, and the creation of alternative dispute resolution (ADR) systems to cope with increases in the civil caseload in the courts. The American Arbitration Association stands for impartiality and community service and has shown that parties can settle the most intractable disputes voluntarily. The AAA, which supports all forms of alternative dispute resolution, has grown from modest beginnings as a society of lawyers, businessmen, academics, and tradesmen to its present status as a national organization of 50,000 arbitrators handling 60,000 cases each year. The association has shown that it is possible to use private processes to resolve a diverse range of domestic and international disputes. ADR can be significantly quicker and less expensive than courtroom litigation. In addition to economy and speed, the greatest contribution of voluntary dispute resolution may be that it represents a willingness to deal with difficult issues and to examine how disagreements develop. 3 appendixes