NCJ Number
113231
Journal
State Court Journal Volume: 12 Issue: 3 Dated: (Summer 1988) Pages: 4-11
Date Published
1988
Length
8 pages
Annotation
This study examines the implications of reforms to reduce case processing time in three State appellate courts: The Illinois Fourth District Court in Springfield, the Third District California Court of Appeal in Sacramento, and the Rhode Island Supreme Court.
Abstract
The three courts cover the range of alternative means of handling criminal appeals. Springfield uses case management and affirmatively monitors compliance with its scheduling orders. Sacramento has a no-argument calendar that relies on an experienced attorney staff to screen cases. Rhode Island uses a fast track procedure to identify appeals that can be resolved through abbreviated procedures. Despite variations in caseload composition, the three courts share an essential characteristic of first-level appeals courts: a high volume of relatively straightforward, routine cases and a much smaller volume of more complicated ones. Consequently, there is a striking similarity across courts in how judges and lawyers view their respective criminal caseloads. Although using different means, all three courts have achieved their delay-reduction goals. A majority of the participants surveyed in each jurisdiction believed that the quality of justice has not suffered because of delay-reduction techniques. This suggests that courts can achieve delay reduction through a number of alternative means, permitting the selection of the means best suited to particular court characteristics. Suggestions are offered for future research in this area. 13 notes.