Judicial Insights on Effective Mediation Strategies

TIME:
Lunch: 11:30 AM – 12:00 PM
CLE: 12:00 PM – 1:00 PM

ONLINE REGISTRATION INCLUDED BELOW.
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Event Description

Join Judge Christopher Conner (Ret.) for a practical discussion on strategies to make mediation a more successful tool for resolving disputes. This program will address the essential elements of a successful mediation, including selecting the right mediator, determining the proper timing, and preparing clients to engage constructively. Judge Conner will also examine the comparative benefits of in-person and virtual mediations, the use of confidential memoranda, and the strategic value of plenary sessions versus caucuses. Attendees will gain practical guidance on advancing settlement discussions, recognizing when to press forward, and achieving finality for their clients through the mediation process.

CREDIT(S):

1.0 SUBSTANTIVE CREDIT

SPEAKER:

Hon. Christopher C. Conner (Ret.)
Mediator/Arbitrator, Optimal Dispute Resolutions

Judge Christopher C. Conner continues his decorated and renowned career at Optimal Dispute Resolutions, following his retirement from the bench after more than 20 successful years as a federal judge. Judge Conner joined Optimal Dispute Resolutions in 2025 after serving as a federal judge for the U.S. District Court for the Middle District of Pennsylvania from 2002 to 2024. His time on the bench also included the esteemed honor of serving as the district’s chief judge from 2013 to 2020.

Judge Conner acts as a mediator assisting clients in achieving amicable resolutions prior to trial. He is also happy to accept appointments as a special master or arbitrator in complex litigation, including multidistrict litigation matters (MDL).

Thousands of cases came into Judge Conner’s courtroom, where he fairly and without bias presided over some of the most significant cases in the Middle District. Among the most notable was the “Kids for Cash” case, where two federal judges in northeast Pennsylvania were sent to prison for receiving money for declaring juveniles delinquent and assigning them to residential placement centers for infractions that normally would result in minor penalties. Judge Conner presided over multiple hearings and a lengthy trial to determine damages for the individuals impacted by the scheme, including determining damage amounts for the families impacted by the scheme between the judges and the juvenile detention center’s owner. The case drew national headlines for months as it played out in Judge Conner’s courtroom.

Judge Conner’s judicial experience has made him a coveted speaker on continuing legal education (CLE) panels and
lectures in Pennsylvania. He’s also a sought-after author and has spoken and written on a broad spectrum of litigation-related topics and ethical issues.

Judge Conner serves as co-chair of Saxton & Stump’s Investigations and Criminal Defense and Appellate and Post-Trial Advocacy groups. He is also part of the Commercial Litigation, Franchise Litigation, and Intellectual Property groups.
Judge Conner works in an advisory role for clients facing complex government investigations and courtroom trials
(including appeals).

Before being appointed a federal judge, Judge Conner worked in private practice in his native Harrisburg, a time when he was very involved in leadership positions at the Pennsylvania Bar Association. He served as President-elect and Vice President of the PBA in 2001-2002. He also served two additional terms on the PBA Board of Governors, and he is a Life Fellow of the Pennsylvania Bar Foundation.

QUESTIONS?

Email Lexi Driendl (lexi@lancasterbar.org), Education & Member Engagement Coordinator