NCJ Number
25614
Date Published
1974
Length
177 pages
Annotation
THE TWO-YEAR APPELLATE JUSTICE PROJECT INVOLVED ASSITING COURTS TO REDUCE THE TIME BETWEEN THE FILING AND HEARING OF APPEALS THROUGH USE OF A CENTRALLY ORGANIZED AND SUPERVISED STAFF OF ATTORNEYS AS AN AID TO JUDGES.
Abstract
ALSO INCLUDED IN THIS PROJECT WAS EXPERIMENTATION WITH PROCEDURAL INNOVATIONS IN THE APPELLATE PROCESS AND MEASUREMENT AND REPORTING OF THE RESULTS. THIS REPORT DEALS WITH ONE YEAR'S OPERATION OF THE PROJECT IN THE ILLINOIS APPELLATE COURT FOR THE FIRST DISTRICT. THIS PROJECT USED CENTRALLY ORGANIZED AND SUPERVISED STAFF IN SCREENING CASES TO IDENTIFY THE EASIEST ONES AND IN THE PREPARATION IN CASES SELECTED OF A STAFF MEMORANDUM, A RECOMMENDED DISPOSITION, AND THE DRAFT OF AN OPINION. AT THE BEGINNING OF PROJECT OPERATION, THE COURT HAD A TWO YEAR BACKLOG OF CASES OF 1998. DURING THE PROJECT YEAR, THE NUMBER OF CASES DISPOSITIONS INCREASED 47.6 PER CENT (525 CASES) OVER THE PREVIOUS TWELVE MONTHS, LEAVING THE NUMBER OF CASES PENDING AT YEAR'S END AT 1889. WHILE THE INCREASE IN COURT EFFICIENCY COULD NOT BE ATTRIBUTED ENTIRELY TO THE OPERATION OF THE PROJECT (DUE TO THE ADDITION OF FOUR NEW JUDGES DURING THE PROJECT YEAR AND A DROP IN NEW CASES FILINGS), THE PROJECT WAS EVALUATED AS PLAYING A SIGNIFICANT ROLE IN ACCELERATING CASE DISPOSITION. JUDICAL OPINION OF THE PROJECT WAS MEASURED BOTH SIX MONTHS AND A YEAR AFTER BEGINNING OF PROGRAM OPERATION BY MEANS OF A QUESTIONNAIRE. RESPONSES AT BOTH TIMES INDICATED MIXED OPINIONS, ALTHOUGH A SUBSTANTIAL MAJORITY INDICATED THAT THE STAFF ATTORNEYS HAD MADE SIGNIFICANT CONTRIBUTIONS TO A MORE EXPEDITIOUS DISPOSITION OF CASES WITHOUT AFFECTING ADVERSELY THE QUALITY OF THE ADJUDICATION. APPENDED ARE TABULAR DATA ON THE PROJECT OPERATION, A COPY OF THE JUDGE'S QUESTIONNAIRE, AND SAMPLE MEMORANDA, PROPOSED OPINIONS, AND OPINIONS ADOPTED BY THE COURT.