NCJ Number
41470
Date Published
1977
Length
379 pages
Annotation
THIS COLLECTION OF 41 ESSAYS FOCUSES ON THE ROUTINE NATURE OF THE DAY-TO-DAY MANAGEMENT OF STATE TRIAL COURTS AND INCLUDES PRAGMATIC AND CONCRETE SUGGESTIONS ON HOW TO UPDATE JUDICIAL MANAGEMENT MACHINERY.
Abstract
ALTHOUGH THERE ARE THIRTEEN CHAPTERS IN THE VOLUME, THE SUBJECT MATTER MAY BE CONCEPTUALLY DIVIDED INTO TWO MAJOR PARTS: SYSTEMIC REFORMS THAT IMPACT UPON THE ENTIRE STATE JUDICIAL BUREAUCRACY AS AN ENTITY, AND SPECIFIC REFORMS THAT MAY BE IMPLEMENTED IN EACH INDIVIDUAL COURT WITHIN THE LARGER SYSTEM. THE VOLUME BEGINS WITH AN APPRAISAL OF COURT REFORM IN TERMS OF ITS HISTORICAL AND CONTEMPORARY COMPONENTS, AND THEN FOCUSES ON THE POTENTIAL IMPEDIMENTS TO SYSTEMIC REFORM AND THE VARIOUS METHODS THAT HAVE BEEN UTILIZED TO OVERCOME THESE OBSTACLES. TRADITIONAL TOPICS OF COURT REFORM EMPHASIZING UNIFICATION AND METHODS OF SELECTING, DISCIPLINING, AND TRAINING JUDGES ARE PRESENTED IN THE ENSUING CHAPTERS. IN ADDITION, THE PERSONNEL WHO MANAGE STATE JUDICIAL SYSTEMS - JUDGES, COURT ADMINISTRATORS, AND COURT CLERKS - ARE ANALYZED ACCORDING TO THEIR ADMINISTRATIVE CHARACTERISTICS, UTILIZATION, AND METHODS OF OPERATION. ADDITIONAL CHAPTERS INCLUDE AN EXTENSIVE DISCUSSION OF THE MEANS BY WHICH INDIVIDUAL COURTS CAN IMPROVE THEIR MANAGERIAL TECHNIQUES, PRESENT ALTERNATIVE METHODS OF JUROR UTILIZATION, ANALYZE BUDGETARY PROBLEMS, AND SUGGEST VARIOUS UNIQUE METHODS FOR THEIR RESOLUTION. ALSO EXAMINED ARE THE USE OF TECHNOLOGY BY THE JUDICIARY AND SUGGESTIONS ON WAYS TO IMPROVE RECORDS, SPACE, AND COURTHOUSE MANAGEMENT. THE FINAL CHAPTER EXPLORES TWO RAPIDLY DEVELOPING AREAS OF COURT MANAGEMENT: PLANNING AND EVALUATION. THIS BOOK IS DESIGNED TO BE UTILIZED EITHER AS A PRINCIPLE TEXT FOR INTRODUCTORY COURSES, OR AS A SUPPLEMENTAL READER IN ADVANCED CLASSES EXPLORING THE SCIENCE OF JUDICIAL ADMINISTRATION. (AUTHOR ABSTRACT)...ELW