Iowa Ct. R. 11.6 (2026)

Rule 11.6 Confidentiality. 11.6(1) A mediator shall maintain the confidentiality of all information the mediator obtains in mediation, unless the parties otherwise agree or as required by applicable law. a. If the parties to a mediation agree, the mediator may disclose information obtained during the mediation. b. A mediator should not communicate to any non-participant information about how the parties acted in the mediation. A mediator may report, if required, whether parties appeared at a scheduled mediation and whether or not the parties reached a resolution. c. If a mediator participates in teaching, research, or evaluation of mediation, the mediator should protect the anonymity of the parties and abide by their reasonable expectations regarding confidentiality. 11.6(2) A mediator who meets with any persons in private session during a mediation shall not convey directly or indirectly to any other person any information that was obtained during that private session without the consent of the disclosing person. 11.6(3) A mediator shall promote understanding among the parties of the extent to which the parties will maintain confidentiality of information they obtain in a mediation. 11.6(4) Depending on the circumstance of a mediation, the parties may have varying expectations regarding confidentiality that a mediator should address. The parties may make their own rules with respect to confidentiality, or the accepted practice of an individual mediator or institution may dictate a particular set of expectations. [Court Order November 10, 2011, effective January 1, 2012]