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Ethics/Professional Responsibility,
Alternative Dispute Resolution

Apr. 17, 2026

Mediation lessons from Mister Rogers: What lawyers can relearn

Amid rising polarization, declining trust in shared facts, and increasing incivility, lawyers can improve mediation outcomes by applying Fred Rogers-inspired principles.

Greg Derin

Mediator and Arbitrator
Signature Resolution

Email: gderin@signatureresolution.com

See more...

Mediation lessons from Mister Rogers: What lawyers can relearn
Shutterstock

In a September 2024 Gallup poll, a record-high 80% of adults said they believed Americans were "greatly divided" on the most important values, with 18% saying the country was united. This view was broadly shared across demographic groups (race, political affiliation, identity, age, etc.). In the same period, the Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM) reported in its Q4 Civility Index that U.S. workers collectively witnessed or experienced about 222 milli...

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