OMNIBUS HEARINGS IN FEDERAL DISTRICT COURTS

• NCJ Number: 34094
• Author(s): R NIMMER
• Date Published: Unknown
• Length: 179 pages
• Grant Number(s): NI-71-043
• Sponsoring Agency: US Dept of Justice; US Dept of Justice NIJ Pub
• Sale Source: National Institute of Justice/
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America
• Note: *This document is currently unavailable from NCJRS.

Annotation

THIS STUDY EXAMINES THE PERFORMANCE OF THE OMNIBUS HEARING IN TWO FEDERAL COURTS (SOUTHERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA AND WESTERN DISTRICT OF TEXAS) ON THE BASES OF SPEED OF DISPOSITION AND JUDGE TIME PER CASE.

Abstract

AN OMNIBUS HEARING INVOLVES THE CREATION OF BROAD, INFORMAL DISCLOSURE OF PROSECUTION EVIDENCE TO THE DEFENSE, FOLLOWED BY JUDICIAL SUPERVISION OF ISSUEIDENTIFICATION AND SCHEDULING PRACTICES. THE STUDY EMPLOYED A COMBINATION OF INTERVIEW AND CASE DATA ANALYSIS. THE STUDY FOUND THAT, IN EACH COURT, OMNIBUS SERVED TO ESTABLISH BROAD, INFORMAL DISCLOSURE OF PROSECUTION EVIDENCE TO THE DEFENSE. HOWEVER, IT FOUND OMNIBUS TO BE GENERALLY DISFUNCTIONAL WITH RESPECT TO JUDGE TIME PER CASE AND, EXCEPT IN A LIMITED NUMBER OF CASES, DISFUNCTIONAL OR INEFFECTIVE IN REDUCING TIME INTERVALS FROM THE FILING TO THE DISPOSITION OF CRIMINAL CASES. (AUTHOR ABSTRACT)