In arbitration, who appoints the arbitrator and what is the outcome?

• A. A specialist arbitrator is appointed and the decision is final.
• B. The mediator selects the arbitrator and the decision is non-binding.
• C. The court appoints the arbitrator and the decision must be approved by a jury.
• D. The parties both choose an arbitrator who then acts as a neutral facilitator.

Answer: (A)

In arbitration, a neutral arbitrator with subject-matter expertise is chosen to decide the dispute. The parties typically agree on who will act as the arbitrator, or a neutral appointing authority steps in if they can’t agree. The key outcome is that the arbitrator’s award is final and binding on both sides, and can be enforced like a court judgment, with only limited avenues to challenge it in court.

This is why the idea of a specialist arbitrator being appointed and the decision being final fits best. It’s not about a mediator or a non-binding agreement, and it doesn’t involve a jury or a court merely approving a decision.