To address the problem of a rapid increase in court caseloads, the Supreme Court of Nevada established a system of mandatory, non-binding arbitration for cases valued at less than $25,000 in Clark and Washoe Counties. The programs started on July 1, 1992. An evaluation of the program in Clark County compared 483 cases that were mediated to 514 cases that were filed in 1990. Additionally, questionnaires were sent to litigants and attorneys, interviews were conducted with court personnel, and focus groups were conducted with arbitrators and attorneys who had experience with arbitration. The study found that a trial de novo was requested in 25.9% of cases, that the arbitration program reduced the district court civil caseload by over 40%, that the pace of litigation was quickened, that costs to the litigants were reported to be lower, that the costs to the state are minimal, and that the program had a positive effect on the quality of justice.