Weekly Brief · July 24, 2026
This week in arbitration — July 24, 2026
This week's arbitration and ADR reading draws entirely from U.S. federal government sources. The links cover restrictions on mandatory arbitration in defense contracting, the growth of court-connected ADR, the effect of arbitration clauses on servicemembers, and federal guidance on AI governance.
Published July 24, 2026 · Sources: GAO, U.S. Courts, NIST
- Defense Contracting: DOD is Taking Steps to Restrict Mandatory Arbitration, but Additional Action Needed ↗
A Government Accountability Office review of how the Department of Defense restricts mandatory arbitration clauses in contractor agreements for sexual assault and civil rights claims, noting gaps in contract coverage.
Source: GAO
- Alternative Dispute Resolution Now an Established Practice in Federal Courts ↗
A judiciary news report describing how alternative dispute resolution, including mediation and arbitration, became a routine practice across federal district courts.
Source: U.S. Courts
- Servicemember Rights: Mandatory Arbitration Clauses Have Affected Some Employment and Consumer Claims but the Extent of Their Effects is Unknown ↗
A Government Accountability Office study of how mandatory arbitration clauses in employment and consumer contracts affect servicemembers' ability to pursue claims under federal protection laws.
Source: GAO
- Artificial Intelligence at NIST ↗
The National Institute of Standards and Technology overview of its AI governance work, including the AI Risk Management Framework for governing and managing AI-related risks.
Source: NIST