NCJ Number
94808
Date Published
1983
Length
22 pages
Annotation
Federal district court judges who use telephone conferences to handle many court matters believe this is an excellent case-management tool which saves time and provides added flexibility for themselves and their staff.
Abstract
Study data came from 13 judges who use telephone conferences extensively. The main use of teleconferencing is to expedite the discovery process. Even in the most complicated cases, many of the pretrial motions and conferences can easily be handled by phone. This procedure speeds a case to trial or settlement by cutting down the number of in-person appearances, reducing frivolous delaying tactics, and focusing on the critical issues. The telephone is particularly useful when one or more of the attorneys is at some distance from the court. Although the telephone use is commonly regarded as an alternative to personal appearances, some judges also teleconference motions that otherwise would be decided on the papers alone. This permits interchange and saves opinion writing. The judges use teleconferencig suitable for certain scheduling, status, and pretrial conferences. Many judges take testimony by phone. Teleconferencing is less feasible when a large number of parties are involved, when exhibits are involved, or when the subject is complex. The technique does not necessarily require special equipment, although additional hardware can improve the process. Increasing the use of the telephone would aid resource allocation in the courts due to its simplicity, availability, and familiarity. The study questionnaire and a list of the judges interviewed are included.