NCJ Number
15021
Date Published
1974
Length
262 pages
Annotation
PROJECT USING CENTRAL STAFFS OF RESEARCH ATTORNEYS IN THE SUPREME COURT OF NEBRASKA, THE SUPREME COURT OF VIRGINIA, THE APPELLATE COURT OF ILLINOIS, FIRST DISTRICT, AND THE APPELLATE DIVISION OF THE SUPERIOR COURT OF NEW JERSEY.
Abstract
PERHAPS MORE THAN ANY OTHER AREA OF OUR ADJUDICATIVE SYSTEM, THE APPEALS PROCESS HAS REMAINED BASICALLY UNCHANGED IN THE FACE OF MODERN DEVELOPMENTS. THE APPELLATE JUSTICE PROJECT OF THE NATIONAL CENTER FOR STATE COURTS WAS INITIATED IN RESPONSE TO THE PRESENT SERIOUS CRISIS IN THIS COUNTRY'S APPELLATE COURTS, TO ASSIST STATE APPELLATE JURISDICTIONS TO PROCESS THEIR RAPIDLY RISING CASELOADS MORE EXPEDITIOUSLY AND EFFICIENTLY. AS PART OF THESE EFFORTS AT APPELLATE COURT MODERNIZATION, A FOUR-STATE PROJECT WAS INSTITUTED TO DEMONSTRATE AND TO EVALUATE THE UTILITY OF USING CENTRAL STAFFS OF RESEARCH ATTORNEYS WORKING AS A UNIT TO ASSIST APPELLATE COURTS IN SCREENING AND PROCESSING APPEALS AND TO SUGGEST NEW PROCEDURES AND TECHNIQUES FOR EXPEDITING THE APPEALS PROCESS. DATA WAS COLLECTED TO CONTRIBUTE TO A NATIONALLY UNIFORM SYSTEM OF APPELLATE STATISTICS, AND TO PROVIDE INFORMATION ON HOW THE APPELLATE PROCESS FUNCTIONS AND WHERE THE DIFFICULTIES LIE. BASED ON THE FOUR YEAR-END PROJECT REPORTS THAT ANALYZED EACH COURT'S EXPERIENCES, APPELLATE COURTS CONSTITUTES A REPORT FOR THE ENTIRE PROJECT. AMONG THE HYPOTHESES SUPPORTED BY EVIDENCE ACCUMULATED WITHIN THE PROJECT WERE THE PROPOSITIONS THAT A CENTRAL STAFF OF LAWYERS CAN INCREASE COURT PRODUCTIVITY AND RETAIN EFFECTIVE CONTROL OVER THE DECISIONAL PROCESS, THAT A SUBSTANTIAL NUMBER OF APPEALS ARE ROUTINE AND CAN BE DECIDED BY SHORT, UNSIGNED OPINIONS AND THAT STAFF ASSISTANCE OF THIS SORT IS ACCEPTABLE TO THE BAR. (SNI ABSTRACT)