After being appointed to the bench in 2003, and after years of informally providing mediation services, Pete received his certificate after completing the CBA/CLE forty hour meditation training in 2004. He participates annually in mediation CLE programs as well, studying restorative justice issues as well as best practices recommendations and applying them to his mediation practice.

In 2011, he became an ODR Mediator in the Eleventh Judicial District, and since that time has contracted to provide child support mediation services in Chaffee County, domestic relations mediation in Fremont County, as well as private mediations involving both county and district court civil cases in the 11 JD, as well as in El Paso County and the Denver metropolitan area.

Pete brings a unique perspective to the process. As an active litigator he is aware of the real and pressing issue faced by clients as they are confronted by the delays and challenges of litigation; and, as a County Court Judge he is in constant contact with the judiciary and involved with the issues and problems faced by Judges managing those cases. Through his own personal experiences, and through his training as a mediator, he is able to provide lawyers and clients with both the empathy they deserve, as well as a pragmatic approach borne from his years of diverse experience, which, he believes, ultimately give participants the tools necessary to resolve their disputes.

In addition to his familiarity with most areas of civil, probate, and domestic relations law, Pete has special expertise in diverse areas of law ranging from livestock, fence and boundary issues confronted by home and ranch owners, to restorative justice disputes where emotional issues, more than money damages, are the source of the problem, and always part of the solution.

The Advantages of ADR:

• Develop mutually acceptable resolutions.
• Resolve not only present, but foreseeable future conflicts.
• Broaden issues to pursue possible as well as known conflicts.
• Allows the parties to limit costs, and control the pace and outcome.
• An opportunity to make your case to a neutral third party without the uncertainty of litigation.
• Create innovative solutions without the limitations posed by the strict remedies allowed in court.

• Informal
• Confidential
• Facilitative(focusing on assisting the parties to find their own solutions)
• Evaluative (suggesting the strengths, weaknesses, and possible outcome if litigation is pursued).
• Self-determined outcomes which result in comprehensive, customized agreements, leading to improved relationships and long-lasting results.