Follow-Up Study of Word Processing and Electronic Mail in the Third Circuit Court of Appeals

• NCJ Number: 72395
• Author(s): J M Greenwood
• Date Published: 1980
• Length: 46 pages
• Corporate Author: Federal Judicial Ctr
• Sale Source: Federal Judicial Ctr; National Institute of Justice/
• Publication Type: Program/Project Evaluation
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America
• Note: Courtran 2 Series

Annotation

This followup to a previous report on the impact of word processing and electronic mail on the Federal Third Circuit Court of Appeals examines the effectiveness of several technological enhancements made in 1979.

Abstract

Objectives of the followup study were to refine and upgrade the capabilities of the word processing and electronic mail system during the spring of 1979, to continue a comprehensive evaluation of the electronic mail service through 1979, to review and comment on the court's use of the word processing system since the initial evaluation study, and to assess the effect of integrating electronic mail and an automated photocomposition system for the publication of the court's slip opinions. Overall, the technologies implemented were found to be cost-justified. Word processing and electronic mail substantially speeded the preparation and publication of court opinions and reduced the processing time for cases with written opinions by 6 weeks (10 percent). Preparation and issue times for per curiam and signed opinions were reduced by 40 to 50 percent. Ninety percent of all court documents are now transmitted by electronic mail. The system delivers more than 85 percent of the court's mail the same day it is sent, guarantees receipt by the following work day, and costs less than other priority delivery services. The electronic mail and automated typesetting systems permit local commercial printers to produce all court published slip opinions in one day (compared to a previous average of 7 days) at a 20 percent reduction in printing costs. (Author abstract modified)