the.com/arbitrator
A judge you hired, who both sides agreed to pretend is neutral.
means A neutral third party formally chosen to hear both sides of a dispute and make a binding decision, outside of court.
from From Latin arbiter, meaning a witness or judge called in to settle a matter — someone who 'goes to' (ad-) the scene, by one older theory, to render judgment. The arbit- root carries that sense of a chosen onlooker whose word becomes final. Arbitrator entered English in the 1300s–1400s via Old French, built on that same Latin base, to name the person who does the arbitrating.
- no appeals
- Binding arbitration rulings are nearly impossible to overturn.
- fine print
- Arbitration clauses hide in most phone and credit contracts.
- private justice
- No public record, no judge, no jury, no precedent.
- paid by parties
- Arbitrators are often chosen and paid by the companies they judge.