Mediation and Evidence
Limits of Confidentiality in Court
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.52028/rbadr.v8.i15.ART16.TURKeywords:
Mediation, Confidentiality, Access to Justice, Evidence Admissibility, Without Prejudice RuleAbstract
This article explores the legal and ethical boundaries of confidentiality in mediation, particularly concerning the admissibility of information in subsequent litigation. Mediation is widely valued for its confidential nature, which fosters open dialogue and facilitates dispute resolution. However, this confidentiality may come into conflict with the need for transparency and fairness in court proceedings. The article examines how various jurisdictions regulate the use of information shared during mediation, focusing on legal frameworks, statutory exceptions, and key judicial decisions. It concentrates on the regulation of mediation confidentiality primarily in Turkish and Australian legal systems, while also referencing relevant international instruments. To better understand judicial treatment of mediation-related evidence, the article distinguishes three key legal bases of confidentiality: contractual agreements, statutory privileges, and general evidentiary rules, each of which carries distinct procedural consequences and exceptions. It also addresses the ethical dilemmas that arise when balancing the right to a fair trial with the principle of mediator confidentiality. By analysing these tensions, the article highlights inconsistencies in national and international approaches and calls for a more coherent and harmonised legal framework to preserve both the integrity of mediation and the interests of justice in litigation.
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