JUDICIAL INDEPENDENCE IN THE COMPUTER AGE

• NCJ Number: 32958
• Journal: Judicature Volume: 59 Issue: 8 Dated: (MARCH 1976) Pages: 372-378
• Author(s): D Weinstein
• Date Published: 1976
• Length: 7 pages
• Corporate Author: American Judicature Soc
• Publication Format: Article
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America

Annotation

CONSIDERATION OF THE CHALLENGES TO JUDICIAL INDEPENDENCE POSED BY AUTOMATED DATA PROCESSING AND HOW THE JUDICIARY HAS RESPONDED TO THEM.

Abstract

THE PROBLEMS OF JUDICIAL DEPENDENCE ON THE LEGISLATIVE AND JUDICIARY BRANCHES FOR FUNDING OF DATA PROCESSING FACILITIES ARE DISCUSSED. THE THREAT THAT INFORMATION SHARING COULD BRING ABOUT POLITICAL PRESSURE TO SUPPORT LAW ENFORCEMENT OBJECTIVES BASED ON INDIVIDUAL SENTENCING PATTERNS OF INDIVIDUAL JUDGES. SAFEGUARDS ARE SUGGESTED FOR CONTROLLING THE FLOW OF INFORMATION FROM TRIAL COURTS TO LAW ENFORCEMENT COMPUTER SYSTEMS SUCH AS COMPUTERIZED CRIMINAL HISTORIES (CCH) AND THE OFFENDER-BASED TRANSACTION STATISTICS (OBTS) SYSTEMS.