OF JUDICIAL ADMINISTRATION (FROM MAGISTRATES' COURT 1976 - WHAT PROGRESS? CANBERRA, (AUSTRALIA), 26-28 NOVEMBER, 1976, 1978, SEE NCJ-51685)

• NCJ Number: 51692
• Author(s): W J LEWER
• Date Published: 1978
• Length: 8 pages
• Corporate Author: Australian Institute of Criminology
• Publication Format: Document
• Language: English
• Country: Australia

Annotation

THE GOAL OF JUDICIAL ADMINISTRATION, SUGGESTED MEANS FOR REACHING THE GOAL, AND A DESCRIPTION OF JUDICIAL ADMINISTRATION IN NEW SOUTH WALES ARE PRESENTED.

Abstract

JUDICIAL ADMINISTRATION IS CONSIDERED RELEVANT TO CRIMINOLOGICAL CONCERNS BECAUSE A POWERFUL FACTOR IN CRIME DETERRENCE IS BELIEVED TO BE THE PROMPT AND ADEQUATE DISPOSITION OF ACCUSED PARTIES THROUGH THE COURTS. THE GOAL OF JUDICIAL ADMINISTRATION AIMS AT ACCOMPLISHING THIS THROUGH THE EXTRACTION OF MAXIMUM OUTPUT FOR JUDGE/MAGISTERIAL TIME CONSISTENT WITH EFFICIENCY AND CONCERN FOR THE RIGHTS OF DEFENDANTS. IT IS BELIEVED THAT EFFICIENT AND EFFECTIVE JUDICIAL ADMINISTRATION IS BEST SERVED WHEN THE STIPENDIARY MAGISTRATE IS CHIEFLY RESPONSIBLE FOR ALL MATTERS AFFECTING COURT OPERATIONS. A GOOD DOCKET SYSTEM IS ADVISED TO BE THE CORE OF AN EFFICIENT COURT SYSTEM, AND IT IS SUGGESTED THAT MAGISTRATES SHOULD OVERSEE IT CONSTANTLY. UNNECESSARY ADJOURNMENTS ARE CITED AS BEING PARTICULARLY DESTRUCTIVE OF AN EFFICIENT USE OF COURT TIME. THE TRAINING OF AN EFFICIENT COURT SUPPORT STAFF IS ALSO DEEMED CRUCIAL TO THE PROPER OPERATION OF COURTS. THE KEEPING OF USEFUL AND ACCURATE STATISTICS, CONSTANT SELF-AUDIT, AND RECEPTIVITY TO NEW IDEAS ABOUT ADMINISTRATIVE PROCEDURES ARE CONSIDERED IMPORTANT IN THE CONTINUING IMPROVEMENT OF COURT OPERATIONS. IT IS NOTED THAT THE MAGISTRATE COURTS IN NEW SOUTH WALES HAVE RECENTLY BEEN SEPARATED FROM THE EXECUTIVE BRANCH OF GOVERNMENT IN MAJOR ADMINISTRATIVE OPERATIONS, WITH THE CHIEF STIPENDIARY MAGISTRATE BEING ASSIGNED AS HEAD OF MAGISTRATES' COURTS ADMINISTRATION. MOST ADMINISTRATIVE TASKS, HOWEVER, ARE DELEGATED TO THE CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER AND THE SENIOR ADMINISTRATIVE OFFICER. A STATISTICAL SYSTEM HAS BEEN ESTABLISHED SUCH THAT, MONTH BY MONTH, IT IS POSSIBLE TO DETERMINE WITH REASONABLE PRECISION THE TIME LAG BETWEEN ENTRY INTO THE CASE LIST AND THE HEARING OF CASES. OTHER METHODS BY WHICH THE EFFICIENCY OF THE NEW SOUTH WALES SYSTEM HAS BEEN IMPROVED ARE BRIEFLY MENTIONED. THE DISCUSSION OF THE CONFERENCE MEMBERS FOLLOWING THIS PRESENTATION IS PROVIDED IN SUMMARY FORM. (RCB)