NCJ Number
14936
Date Published
1972
Length
219 pages
Annotation
DETAILED EXAMINATION OF THE OPERATIONS OF ALL THE STATE AND MUNICIPAL COURTS IN A MULTI-COUNTY JUDICIAL DISTRICT SERVING BOTH RURAL AND URBAN COMMUNITIES.
Abstract
ONE OF THE ESSENTIAL PREREQUISITES TO IMPROVED COURT ADMINISTRATION AND ORGANIZATION IS A DETAILED EXAMINATION OF THE STRENGTHS AND WEAKNESSES OF EXISTING COURTS. THIS CASE STUDY OF THE WESTERN JUDICAL CIRCUIT, ONE OF GEORGIA'S 42 SUPERIOR COURT CIRCUITS, IS AN EXAMPLE OF SUCH AN EXAMINATION. THE WESTERN JUDICIAL CIRCUIT HAS A SINGLE SUPERIOR COURT JUDGE AND IS A MULTI-COUNTY DISTRICT SERVING BOTH URBAN AND RURAL POPULATIONS. THE SUPERIOR COURT EXERCISES EXCLUSIVE JURISDICTION CONCERNING DIVORCE, FELONIES, LAND TITLES AND EQUITY AS WELL AS CONCURRENT AND APPELLATE JURISDICTION WITH REGARD TO A NUMBER OF LOWER COURTS OF LIMITED JURISDICTION. COVERED BY THIS STUDY ARE THE ADMINISTRATIVE PRACTICES, ORGANIZATION AND JURISDICTION OF THE 56 COURTS LOCATED WITHIN THE WESTERN CIRCUIT DURING 1970. IN ADDITION TO THE SUPERIOR COURT'S OFFICES IN EACH OF THREE COUNTIES, ALL LOWER COURTS, INCLUDING JUSTICES OF THE PEACE, MAYOR'S, RECORDER'S, AND POLICE COURTS ARE EXAMINED. THE DATA ARE PRESENTED IN TWO SECTIONS. THE FIRST PRESENTS THE FINDINGS IN SUMMARY FORM ALONG WITH RECOMMENDED CHANGES IN THE AREAS OF ORGANIZATION AND JURISDICTION, CASE STATISTICS, PERSONNEL AND PERSONNEL ADMINISTRATION, RECORDS MANAGEMENT, AND FINANCING AND FINANCIAL RECORD KEEPING. THE SECOND SECTION REPORTS THE DETAILED FINDINGS IN EACH AREA IN NARRATIVE FORM FOR BOTH THE SUPERIOR COURT OFFICES AND THE LOWER COURTS. TABLES AND FLOWCHARTS ILLUSTRATE THE TEXT AND CITATIONS TO REFERENCE WORKS AND THE GEORGIA CODE ARE FOUND THROUGHOUT. (SNI ABSTRACT)