NCJ Number
74456
Editor(s)
L Powell
Date Published
1980
Length
160 pages
Annotation
Written by experts in State court reform, these articles describe the impact of court organization in Connecticut, Kentucky, Florida, New York, Utah, Washington, and Wisconsin.
Abstract
This anthology reviews moves by many States to unify trial courts, consolidate administrative structure, establish judicial merit selection and judicial discipline commissions, and unify State budgeting. An article on implementation of court reform in Kentucky discusses the historical background of court reform as well as the strategies and major aspects of reforms which affect personnel, records, facilities, and accounting. A primary goal of the Kentucky reform movement was to establish a dimension of accountability, a dimension best reflected in the creation of the Judicial Retirement and Removal Commission. An additional section evaluates Florida's reform implementation and the degree to which adoption of a 1980 amendment to article 5 of Florida's constitution on supreme court reform meets voters' expectations. The amendment to article 5 of Florida's constitution defined jurisdictional boundaries of the Florida supreme court and was written to eliminate delay and cost in appellate proceedings. Citing the 160 years of organization evolution, the article on the Connecticut court system presents a brief, historical review and examination of the periods of consolidation of numerous courts, the development of administrative machinery, and the unification of all trial courts into a single-tier court of general jurisdiction. Judicial reform in Wisconsin is seen in the context of the history of the judicial council's reform efforts. The year 1978 saw the culmination of the Wisconsin movement begun a decade earlier. Principal actors in the movement are identified, and the reasons for success are analyzed. In addition to reviewing legislative reform movement history, the article on New York provides abstracts of constitutional amendments, the reformed standards and administrative policies, and a description of the chief judge's delegation. The implementation strategies used to obtain a new court system in Utah are presented. The final article includes a history of Washington State court reform and an outline of the issues involving the basic structure, composition, and management of the judiciary. A table of contents is provided, and a list of the ABA Council of State court representatives is appended. (Author abstract modified).