Managing the Business of the Supreme Court

• NCJ Number: 100279
• Journal: Public Administration Review Volume: 45 Dated: special issue (November 1985) Pages: 667-678
• Author(s): D M O'Brien
• Date Published: 1985
• Length: 12 pages
• Sale Source: National Institute of Justice/; NCJRS Photocopy Services
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America
• Note: For microfiche, see NCJ-100276.

Annotation

This article examines the growth in the U.S. Supreme Court's docket and alternative ways of managing the increased workload.

Abstract

Increases in the Court's caseload historically have stimulated jurisdictional and institutional reform as well as internal organization changes. Current proposals to cope with caseload increases are considered in view of past jurisdictional changes and recent organizational and procedural innovations. Jurisdictional options analyzed include eliminating the few mandatory provisions for mandatory appellate review and establishing a national intermediate appellate court or a national court of appeals. The article also discusses organization changes such as lengthening the court's term, cutting back on the oral argument calendar, and increased manpower for each justice's chambers. Finally, a review of procedural responses to caseload pressures addresses screening practices, the handling of unpaid cases, and the expanding role of law clerks. Graphs and 34 references.