NCJ Number
3298
Date Published
Unknown
Length
0 pages
Annotation
IN THIS AUDIOTAPE, JUDGE TIM MURPHY OF THE (THEN) D.C. COURT OF GENERAL SESSIONS ACCOUNTS FOR THE PRESENT, MAJOR PROBLEM OF COURT DELAYS AND CASE BACKLOGS IN STATE COURTS.
Abstract
PART OF THE BLAME CAN BE PLACED ON JUDGES AND THEIR LACK OF PROFESSIONALISM AND PART ON POOR COURT MANAGEMENT PRACTICES. FREQUENT REVERSALS TEND TO MAKE JUDGES GUN SHY AND HESITANT. PAPERWORK IS VOLUMINOUS, SUPERFLUOUS, AND SELF-PERPETUATING. THE LACK OF EFFICIENCY IN PROCESS AND PAPER SERVICE IS APPALLING. THE MOST IMPORTANT PERSON IN THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM IS THE DISTRICT ATTORNEY. HE DECIDES WHICH CASES TO FILE. IF, FOR EXAMPLE, HE LIMITS THE NUMBER OF FELONY PROSECUTIONS, CRIMES THAT WOULD NORMALLY BE PROSECUTED AS FELONIES WOULD BE REDUCED TO MISDEMEANORS. IN THIS WAY, BURGLARY WOULD BECOME ATTEMPTED BURGLARY. THE DAILY REPETITION HEARD BY JUDGES IS NUMBING. WHEN THIS IS COUPLED WITH INCOMPETENCE ON THE PART OF DEFENDERS, THE RESULT IS MORE PAPERWORK AND MORE DELAY. SOLUTIONS TO THE PROBLEM ARE IDENTIFIED AS AN ADMINISTRATIVE BUREAUCRACY TO HANDLE TRAFFIC CASES, ALCOHOLISM, AND DRUG ADDICTION; INTROSPECTION ON THE PART OF JUDGES; MULTIPURPOSE JUDGES; PROFESSIONALISM; GOOD LAWYERS; A NATIONAL JUDICIAL CENTER; JUDICIAL EDUCATION; AND OVERALL COURT REFORM....PO