NCJ Number
57268
Editor(s)
P HOLAHAN
Date Published
1978
Length
52 pages
Annotation
THE JUDICIAL COUNCIL OF THE SUPREME COURT OF LOUISIANA REPORTS THE ACTIVITIES OF THE STATE'S TRIAL AND APPELLATE COURTS DURING 1978.
Abstract
THE REPORT HIGHLIGHTS THE ACCOMPLISHMENTS OF THE COUNCIL, THE JUDICIAL PLANNING COMMITTEE, AND THE JUDICIAL COLLEGE DURING 1978. AMONG THESE ACCOMPLISHMENTS WERE THE STATE LEGISLATURE'S CREATION OF 12 NEW JUDGESHIPS AND PASSAGE OF A LAW TO FIX A DEADLINE FOR FILING PRETRIAL MOTIONS IN CRIMINAL CASES (BOTH AT THE COUNCIL'S RECOMMENDATION) AND THE COUNCIL'S APPROVAL IN PRINCIPLE OF A RANKING SYSTEM FOR PLANNING NEW JUDGESHIPS. THE REPORT ALSO DESCRIBES THE BACKGROUND AND FUNCTIONS OF THE JUDICIARY COMMISSION, THE STATE'S DISCIPLINARY MECHANISM. THE JUDICIAL ADMINISTRATOR'S REPORT CONSISTS OF A REVIEW OF THE ACCOMPLISHMENTS OF THE RETIRING CHIEF JUSTICE DURING HIS TENURE SINCE MARCH 1973 AS CHIEF ADMINISTRATIVE OFFICER. GRAPHS AND CHARTS DEPICT FILING AND OTHER TRENDS IN THE SUPREME COURT, COURTS OF APPEAL, DISTRICT COURTS, FAMILY AND JUVENILE COURTS, AND CITY AND PARISH COURTS. STATISTICAL TABLES PRESENT DETAILS OF CASE ACTIVITY FOR 1976, 1977, AND 1978, INCLUDING BREAKDOWNS BY CASE TYPE, COURT TYPE, AND JURISDICTION. A NARRATIVE SUMMARY OF CASE ACTIVITY IS ALSO PROVIDED. DURING 1978, SUPREME COURT FILINGS INCREASED BY 9 PERCENT, WHILE FILINGS IN COURTS OF APPEAL DECREASED BY ABOUT 13 PERCENT. A COMMITTEE ASSIGNED TO STUDY THE SUPREME COURT'S CASELOAD SITUATION, WHICH IS DESCRIBED AS CRITICAL, RECOMMENDED THAT A MAJOR PORTION OF THE SUPREME COURT'S CRIMINAL APPELLATE JURISDICTION BE TRANSFERRED TO SOME OTHER COURT OR COURTS. THAT CASELOADS IN THE DISTRICT COURTS ARE MANAGEABLE IS ATTRIBUTED TO THE COMMISSION'S WORK IN CREATING NEW JUDGESHIPS. MAPS OF THE COURT DISTRICTS ARE PROVIDED. (LKM)