CONCORD — Thirteen of the state's 36 district courts will begin a new mediation program on Sept. 1, in hopes of reducing the courts' workload and resolving cases more quickly.

Gov. John Lynch held a signing ceremony Monday for legislation (SB 63) implementing the new mediation program at the district court level.

"I think mediation is so important for our court system," Lynch said. "It allows us to settle cases quicker and less expensively."

The Dover, Rochester, Laconia, Plymouth districts courts are among the 13 that will begin mediation on Sept. 1. The rest of the state's remaining 23 district courts will be utilizing the program by next September.

"I think we accomplished a great deal for the citizens of the state with this bill," said state Supreme Court Chief Justice John Broderick. "This will assist in making the state's justice system more accessible, more affordable and more understandable."

About 18,000 small claims cases are filed in New Hampshire courts every year. Small claims cases are those in which the parties are seeking to recover a money judgment of under $5,000.

The mediation option will allow both sides to negotiate with a court-appointed mediator in hopes of coming to a resolution before appearing in front of a judge. If mediation fails, the parties will have to the option of bringing the case before a judge.

According to Supreme Court Justice Joseph Nadeau, very few cases that go to mediation fail to reach resolution before going to a judge.

"The great thing about mediation is it's not adversarial," Nadeau said. "It allows people to take part in the solution. And a mediated solution is one that tends to stay in place because the parties participate in that solution."

Funding for the new mediation program at the district court level will be funded by a $5 increase in the court filing fee for all small claims cases filed as of July 1.

While Lynch ceremonially signed the legislation Monday, the governor actually signed the bill into law last week.

N.H. Statehouse Writer Colin Manning can be reached at 226-3633 or statehousefosters.com.