FEDERAL MAGISTRATES ACT OF 1979, S 237 (HEARING BEFORE THE SUBCOMMITTEE ON IMPROVEMENTS IN JUDICIAL MACHINERY, 96TH CONGRESS, 1ST SESSION, MARCH 30, 1979)

• NCJ Number: 66896
• Date Published: 1979
• Length: 134 pages
• Corporate Author: US Congress
• Sale Source: National Institute of Justice/
• Publication Type: Legislative/Regulatory Material
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America

Annotation

CONGRESSIONAL TESTIMONY ON LEGISLATION THAT WOULD EXPAND THE CIVIL AND CRIMINAL JURISDICTION OF FEDERAL MAGISTRATES IS RECORDED.

Abstract

THE TESTIMONY CONCERNS THE MAGISTRATES ACT OF 1979, PART OF A LEGISLATIVE PACKAGE DESIGNED TO IMPROVE ACCESS TO THE FEDERAL COURTS. THE ACT WOULD ALLOW CIVIL CASES AND MINOR CRIMINAL CASES TO BE TRIED BEFORE A MAGISTRATE, WITH THE CONSENT OF THE PARTIES INVOLVED. TESTIMONY IS PRESENTED BY DISTRICT COURT JUDGES, MAGISTRATES, LAW PROFESSORS, A STATE SUPREME COURT JUSTICE, AND OTHER WITNESSES, WHO ASSESS THE STRENGTHS AND WEAKNESSES OF THE BILL. SOME OF THE WITNESSES ALSO EXPRESS VIEWS ON ANOTHER COMPONENT OF THE LEGISLATIVE PACKAGE WHICH WOULD ENABLE FEDERAL COURT JUDGES TO REQUIRE LITIGANTS TO SUBMIT THEIR CASES TO OUT-OF-COURT ARBITRATION. IN ADDITION TO THE RECORD OF TESTIMONY, THE REPORT ALSO INCLUDES A COPY OF THE MAGISTRATES ACT AND AN EVALUATION OF A PILOT ARBITRATION PROJECT. TABULAR DATA ARE INCLUDED.