NCJ Number
82759
Date Published
Unknown
Length
32 pages
Annotation
The history of the Conference of State Court Administrators (COSCA) is traced from its beginning as the National Conference of Court Administrative Officers (NCCAO) in the 1950's to the present (early 1980's), and the organization's future is discussed.
Abstract
The original bylaws of NCCAO stated the following purposes for the organization: (1) to facilitate cooperation, consultation, and exchange of information by and among those persons and offices directly concerned with the administration of the courts, (2) to foster the use of the principles and techniques of modern business management in judicial administration, and (3) thereby to improve administrative practices and procedures of the courts in the various jurisdictions. By the middle 1960's, NAACO had accomplished much. Their meetings were valuable for the camaraderie and exchange of views among the members. They listened to panels and discussions on the several topics of judicial administration. Further, they were becoming less and less dependent on their own resources and experiences and more able to schedule input from others, particularly judges and law professors, so as to broaden the exchange of information. On the other hand, the conference membership was incomplete. By 1967, only about half the States were represented, and the sporadic efforts at developing policy statements were usually stymied by the variety of court systems represented. In the early 1970's, NCCAO became COSCA, and membership was limited to State court administrators. In the years since, developments within COSCA have been marked by substantial growth. By 1977, all 50 States were represented. There has been a continuing discussion about the purposes of COSCA and its relationships with other organizations and constituencies. In the future, COSCA should maintain itself and nurture its role in national affairs. Thirty-eight notes are listed.