Caseflow Management: The Heart of Court Management in the New Millennium

• NCJ Number: 184696
• Author(s): David C. Steelman; John A. Goerdt; James E. McMillan
• Date Published: 2000
• Length: 309 pages
• Sponsoring Agency: National Ctr for State Courts
• Sale Source: National Ctr for State Courts
• Publication Format: Book (Softbound)
• Publication Type: Instructional Material
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America
• Note: Court Management Library Series

Annotation

In providing information designed to improve caseflow management in trial courts, this book is intended to assist not only those who have not yet been exposed to caseflow management but also those who may wish to refine or renew caseflow management or extend it to case types to which it has not yet been applied.

Abstract

Part I begins with a chapter that describes the basic methods of caseflow management. The next two chapters describe the specific application of these methods in civil, criminal, traffic, family, and probate cases. Part II addresses the fundamental features of successful caseflow management programs. One chapter in this section focuses on leadership, vision, communications, and learning, factors that are necessary for effective court management in general as well as for the success of any caseflow management improvement effort. Another chapter in this section discusses expectations, measurement, and accountability, the essential features of any kind of management. Part III deals with program implementation. One chapter suggests the kinds of reports that are needed for successful caseflow management, and another chapter considers elements of a suitable case management information system and other technology applications that support caseflow management. Caseflow management's relationship to case assignment systems, alternative dispute resolution, pro se litigation, and other important matters is the subject of another chapter in this section. The concluding chapter outlines ways to implement a caseflow management program. An epilogue provides answers to two questions that have confronted court managers during the past 25 years: (1) If it is known how caseflow should be managed, why do so many trial courts continue to experience problems with the pace of litigation? and (2) Having achieved initial success with caseflow management, how can a court maintain its effectiveness with caseflow management over time? Appended supplementary information, a 288-item bibliography, 9 figures, 4 tables, and sample reports