1. (a) In all arbitration proceedings under this Act, the number and selection of arbitrators shall be as provided by this Section.
2. (b) Unless the parties to an arbitration proceeding agree that the arbitration shall be conducted by a single arbitrator, the arbitration proceeding shall be conducted by a panel of 3 arbitrators selected as provided in this Section.
3. (c) In proceedings to be conducted by a single arbitrator, all parties to the arbitration proceeding must agree in writing to the selection of the arbitrator. If the parties cannot agree to the selection of a single individual to be the arbitrator, any party may apply to the court for the selection of an arbitrator. Such application shall include an affidavit that the sides of the proceeding cannot reach agreement on the selection of an arbitrator. If the court finds that the parties cannot reach agreement, the court shall appoint an arbitrator as provided in paragraph (e).
4. (d) In proceedings to be conducted by a panel of 3 arbitrators, each side of the proceeding shall select one arbitrator, and the 2 arbitrators thus selected shall agree and select the third neutral arbitrator. If the 2 arbitrators selected by the sides of the proceeding cannot agree on the selection of the third arbitrator, any party may apply to the court for the selection of a third neutral arbitrator. Such application shall include an affidavit signed by at least one of the previously selected arbitrators that agreement cannot be reached. If the court determines that the 2 previously selected arbitrators cannot reach agreement. The court shall provide for the selection of a third neutral arbitrator pursuant to the provisions of paragraph (e).

5. (e) The court shall submit to each side a list of five practicing attorneys licensed in the State of Illinois. The parties may, by agreement, select one of the five as the neutral arbitrator. Failing such agreement, each side shall strike two names from the list. The remaining name shall be the third neutral arbitrator. For purposes of this Section, a retired judge of the Supreme, Appellate, or Circuit Court of Illinois shall be deemed a licensed practicing attorney.

   The third neutral arbitrator selected according to paragraph (c), (d), or (e) shall be the presiding officer at the arbitration hearing, and shall decide evidentiary and procedural questions during the hearing.

6. (f) For purposes of this Section, a selection by a side of an arbitration proceeding means a choice made either by those parties seeking damages or by those parties against whom damages are sought. If the parties on a side cannot unanimously agree on the selection of an arbitrator, the question shall be determined by lot.

(from Ch. 10, par. 213)

(Source: P.A. 80-1012.)