The Maryland Judiciary commissioned an independent researcher, the Bosserman Center for Conflict Resolution at Salisbury University, to conduct a study to determine the impact of the processes used for referring civil cases to alternative dispute resolution (ADR) on the day of trial. This study examines how District Court judges introduce, offer, or direct cases from the bench to Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) on the trial date, and how those comments affect the odds that litigants will or will not try ADR for their case.