NCJ Number
93134
Editor(s)
F J Klein
Date Published
1981
Length
342 pages
Annotation
These 22 essays focus on a broad variety of efforts to improve court structures, administration, and procedures and are intended for the use of those who may wish to undertake any of a variety of court improvement projects.
Abstract
An overview of the development of the Federal and State court systems is followed by studies of the reorganization and simplification of court structure and of issues related to court administration in the 1980's. The judiciary is examined in the context of selection, compensation, discipline, mandatory retirement, judicial education and training, and the use of judicial councils and conferences. Additional essays are devoted to the use of judicial evaluation polls, rulemaking by the courts, discovery and pretrial procedures, and the improvement of the law of evidence. Further articles examine the improvement of the jury system, of the administration of criminal justice, of appellate justice, and of administrative procedure, as well as the use of citizen committees and lawyer-lay organizations. Topics also considered are the state of the art in juvenile courts, family courts, traffic courts, non-attorney justices, and alternative dispute resolution. The relationship between the courts and the public is examined from the viewpoints of a judge and of a member of the press. Annotated reference lists are supplied for each chapter.