NCJ Number
50740
Journal
Judicature Volume: 62 Issue: 3 Dated: (SEPTEMBER 1978) Pages: 144-146
Date Published
1978
Length
3 pages
Annotation
FOCUSING ON THE ORANGE COUNTY, CALIF. SUPERIOR COURT'S EXPERIENCE, THE PAPER DISCUSSES OPTIMUM CASE SEQUENCING ISSUES INCLUDING DATA COLLECTION, DETERMINATION OF TRIAL TIME, AND ACCESS TO JUSTICE.
Abstract
THE ORANGE COUNTY SUPERIOR COURT HAS IMPLEMENTED A VERSION OF OPTIMUM SEQUENCING IN SCHEDULING CIVIL CASES. THE CASES ARE ASSIGNED TRIAL DATES DEPENDING ON THE PRESENCE OF A JURY TRIAL REQUEST AND THE ESTIMATED TRIAL PROCESSING TIME. THE PRESIDING JUDGE REQUESTS THE PROSECUTION AND DEFENSE COUNSELS TO ESTIMATE TRIAL TIME, AND THE JUDGES ACCEPTS THE LONGER ESTIMATE. THE ORANGE COUNTY COURT HAS NOT ESTABLISHED MAXIMUM TIME LIMITS FOR THE PROCESSING OF CIVIL CASES. OPTIMUM SEQUENCING REQUIRES VALUE JUDGEMENTS AND CASES REQUIRING LONGER TRIAL TIME CAN BE PENALIZED. IF MAXIMUM TIME LIMITS ARE NOT SET FOR PROCESSING TIME DISCREPANCIES IN COURT ACCESS COULD OCCUR. MORE EMPIRICAL INFORMATION MUST BE OBTAINED TO DETERMINE WHETHER CLASSIFICATION OF CASES FOR SCHEDULING PURPOSES RESULTS IN CLASSIFICATION OF LITIGANTS. (DAG)