NCJ Number
12945
Journal
Judicature Volume: 57 Issue: 4 Dated: (NOVEMBER 1973) Pages: 159-162
Date Published
1973
Length
4 pages
Annotation
ARGUMENT THAT CAUTION SHOULD BE EXERCISED BY THOSE PLANNING AND AUTHORIZING ADDITIONAL JUDGES AND THAT MANY FACTORS IN ADDITION TO CASELOAD SHOULD BE CONSIDERED.
Abstract
CREATING NEW JUDGESHIPS IS NO PANACEA FOR BACKLOGGED COURTS. NON-JUDICIAL PERSONNEL AND FACILITIES MUST ALSO BE CONSIDERED. AS PART OF AN OVERALL PLAN, HOWEVER, NEW JUDGESHIPS MAY IN ALL LIKELIHOOD BE ESSENTIAL. COURTS MUST HAVE DEFINITE STANDARDS BY WHICH TO GAUGE THE OPTIMAL NUMBER OF JUDGES IN ANY GIVEN SYSTEM. FACTORS TO BE CONSIDERED IN ADDITION TO CURRENT AND PROJECTED CASELOAD INCLUDE FISCAL RESOURCES, COURT REFORM AND USE OF NON-JUDICIAL PERSONNEL, USE OF DATA PROCESSING EQUIPMENT, AND COMMUNITY RELATIONS OR RESPONSE. THE AUTHOR EXAMINES A SUCCESSFUL PHILADELPHIA PROJECT WHICH ACCURATELY PROJECTED THE OPTIMAL LEVEL OF JUDGESHIPS FOR THE JURISDICTION. HE SUGGESTS THAT TWO TECHNIQUES OF SYSTEMS BUDGETING - PLANNING, PROGRAMMING, AND BUDGETING SYSTEMS (PPBS) AND MEASURE OF EFFECTIVENESS (MOE) MAY BE APPROPRIATE TO DETERMINE JUDGESHIP LEVELS.