§ 655. — Arbitrators.
[Laws in effect as of January 24, 2002]
[Document not affected by Public Laws enacted between
January 24, 2002 and December 19, 2002]
[CITE: 28USC655]
TITLE 28--JUDICIARY AND JUDICIAL PROCEDURE
PART III--COURT OFFICERS AND EMPLOYEES
CHAPTER 44--ALTERNATIVE DISPUTE RESOLUTION
Sec. 655. Arbitrators
(a) Powers of Arbitrators.--An arbitrator to whom an action is
referred under section 654 shall have the power, within the judicial
district of the district court which referred the action to
arbitration--
(1) to conduct arbitration hearings;
(2) to administer oaths and affirmations; and
(3) to make awards.
(b) Standards for Certification.--Each district court that
authorizes arbitration shall establish standards for the certification
of arbitrators and shall certify arbitrators to perform services in
accordance with such standards and this chapter. The standards shall
include provisions requiring that any arbitrator--
(1) shall take the oath or affirmation described in section 453;
and
(2) shall be subject to the disqualification rules under section
455.
(c) Immunity.--All individuals serving as arbitrators in an
alternative dispute resolution program under this chapter are performing
quasi-judicial functions and are entitled to the immunities and
protections that the law accords to persons serving in such capacity.
(Added Pub. L. 100-702, title IX, Sec. 901(a), Nov. 19, 1988, 102 Stat.
4661; amended Pub. L. 105-315, Sec. 7, Oct. 30, 1998, 112 Stat. 2996.)
Amendments
1998--Pub. L. 105-315 amended section generally, substituting
provisions relating to arbitrators for provisions relating to trial de
novo.
Section Referred to in Other Sections
This section is referred to in sections 651, 652 of this title.
