Administering the Federal Judicial Circuits - A Survey of Chief Judges' Approaches and Procedures

• NCJ Number: 91883
• Author(s): R R Wheeler; C W Nihan
• Date Published: 1982
• Length: 58 pages
• Corporate Author: Federal Judicial Ctr
• Sale Source: Federal Judicial Ctr; National Institute of Justice/; NCJRS Photocopy Services
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America

Annotation

Using field interviews with chief judges and others, this study examined how administrative responsibilities are met in Federal appellate courts.

Abstract

The main part of each interview was spent reviewing the administrative duties listed in the project description, and information was also solicited on estimates of the amount of time chief judges devoted to administration as well as basic approaches to administration. Data were also obtained from various court documents, such as sample judicial council agendas, standard internal operating procedures, specific directives, and lists of committees. Five overall impressions of administration by the chief judges were as follows: (1) administration is a significant burden on chief judges; (2) chief judges tend to understate the importance of their administrative responsibilities; (3) chief judges differ less in their specific administrative procedures than in their overall approach to administration; (4) circuits are in transition to a new administrative era; and (5) current conditions may require a change in administrative approach. How chief judges fulfill their administrative responsibilities is examined under the topics of judicial organizations, relationships among judges, caseflow management, supervising district court business, general planning, and general administration. A table presents a composite picture of how the chief judges weigh the importance of their personal involvement in various administrative duties as either 'essential,' 'important,' or 'peripheral.' Consideration of how the administrative component of the chief judge's role might be strengthened focuses on preparation and orientation in chief judges' responsibilities, recognition of the importance of administration, and review of chief judges' statutory duties. The appendixes contain a project description sent to potential interviewees and the tenure of chief circuit judges serving since 1959. Tables cover chief judges' caseload reductions as of February 1982, chief judges' approaches to administration, and chief judges' collective perception of the relative importance of their administrative duties.