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Mediation and ADR

Summary jury trial

An ADR process in which each side presents its case to a panel of jurors, who may give a nonbinding advisory opinion on liability or damages to help settlement talks.[1]

In more detail

Under Texas law the panel has six jurors unless the parties agree otherwise.[1] The Northern District of California describes nonbinding summary trials as a tool for complex cases headed for long trials.[2]

Varies by state

Courts that use summary jury trials set their own procedures. Find your state’s rules.

Related terms

  • Mini-trialAn agreed ADR process in which each side presents its case to party representatives or an impartial third party, to set up realistic settlement talks.
  • Moderated settlement conferenceA Texas ADR process in which each side presents its position to a panel of impartial third parties, who may give a nonbinding advisory opinion on liability, damages or both.
  • Alternative dispute resolution (ADR)Ways of resolving a legal dispute without a trial, such as mediation, arbitration, early neutral evaluation and settlement conferences.

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Sources

The official documents this definition is based on, with the date we last read each one. Definitions are in our own words.

  1. Tex. Civ. Prac. & Rem. Code ch. 154 (Alternative dispute resolution procedures)tcss.legis.texas.govchecked ↩
  2. Arbitration and other ADR processescand.uscourts.govchecked ↩

General information, not legal advice. MediationList is not a law firm. Spotted an error? Tell us.

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MediationList. (2026, October 28). Summary jury trial: Definition. https://mediationlist.com/glossary/summary-jury-trial/

APA 7th ed. A retrieval date is included only for pages whose content changes, such as maps, data and tools.