CONNECTICUT - EVALUATION OF VARIOUS PROPOSALS FOR REORGANIZATION AND UNIFICATION OF THE TRIAL COURTS AND FOR REDUCING CASELOAD

• NCJ Number: 18991
• Author(s): ANON
• Date Published: 1974
• Length: 64 pages
• Sponsoring Agency: Connecticut Cmssn to Study and Draft Legislation for the Reorganization and Unification of the Court
• Corporate Author: Connecticut Citizens for Judicial Modernization
• Sale Source: National Institute of Justice/
• Publication Type: Statistics
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America

Annotation

THIS REPORT ANALYZES THE CASELOADS OF THE SUPERIOR, COMMON PLEAS AND CIRCUIT COURTS, THE ASSIGNMENT OF JUDGES TO THOSE COURTS, AND THE RATES OF ENTRY AND DISPOSITION PER JUDGE DAY IN THE COURTS BY VARIOUS TYPES OF BUSINESS.

Abstract

THE EFFECT OF THE ADDITION OF JUDGES IN THE SUPERIOR AND CIRCUIT COURTS IN 1973 IS ANALYZED. THE REPORT ALSO ANALYZES VARIOUS ALTERNATIVE APPROACHES TO THE CLASSIFICATION AND HANDLING OF MOTOR VEHICLE VIOLATIONS, PETTY MISDEMEANORS, AND VICTIMLESS CRIMES, CONCLUDING THAT A CHANGE IN PHILOSOPHY OF HANDLING SUCH MATTERS WOULD PROVIDE AN OPPORTUNITY TO REDUCE CASELOAD AND IMPROVE THE QUALITY OF JUSTICE. OTHER APPROACHES FOR IMPROVING EFFICIENCY OF UTILIZATION OF COURT TIME AND MONEY ARE CONSIDERED INCLUDING CONSOLIDATION OF COURT FACILITIES, CONSOLIDATION OF JURY TRIALS, PROVISION OF PERMANENT JUDICIAL SUPERVISION AT EACH COURT LOCATION, CHANGES IN GRANTING OF CONTINUANCES AND USE OF MAGISTRATES IN LIEU OF ADDITIONAL JUDGES. THE VARIOUS MERGER POSSIBILITIES ARE ANALYZED AND AN OVERALL MERGER OF SUPERIOR, COMMON PLEAS AND CIRCUIT COURTS, TOGETHER WITH THE JUVENILE COURT AND JUVENILE/CUSTODIAL MATTERS IN THE PROBATE COURT, REPRESENTS THE MOST BENEFICIAL APPROACH IN THE OPINION OF THE RESEARCHERS. FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION, SEE NCJ-18992-18996.