Who has the authority to make a final ruling between conflicting parties?

The authority to make a final ruling between conflicting parties typically rests with an arbitrator. In the context of arbitration, parties involved in a dispute agree to submit their conflict to an arbitrator, who listens to both sides and then makes a binding decision. This means that the arbitrator's ruling is final and enforceable, providing a resolution to the dispute without the need for additional legal proceedings.

In contrast, roles such as a judge, moderator, and mediator do not have the same binding authority in conflicts. A judge has judicial authority in a courtroom setting, but their role is different as they often preside over legal proceedings and seek to ensure that laws are appropriately applied rather than directly resolving conflicts through arbitral means. A moderator facilitates discussions and maintains order in meetings or negotiations but does not make decisions. A mediator assists parties in reaching a voluntary agreement but similarly does not issue binding decisions. Therefore, the distinction lies in the nature of the authority each role holds in the resolution process, with the arbitrator being the one who provides a final and binding resolution.