State Appellate Court Adaptation to Caseload Growth, Final Report

• NCJ Number: 103762
• Author(s): T B Marvell; C Moody
• Date Published: 1986
• Length: 295 pages
• Grant Number(s): 83-IJ-CX-4046
• Sponsoring Agency: National Institute of Justice (NIJ); US Dept of Justice NIJ Pub
• Corporate Author: Court Studies
• Sale Source: National Institute of Justice/; NCJRS Photocopy Services
• Publication Type: Report (Study/Research)
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America

Annotation

This report details research methodology, statistical analyses, data content, variables, and findings for a study of State appellate courts' adaptations to rising caseloads for 1968-1984.

Abstract

Information obtained from court annual reports, unpublished statistics, court rules, case reporters, interviews with court staff, and other literature on appellate court staff, and other literature on appellate court operations in 45 States was subjected to time-series cross-section analysis to determine which adaptations have been most effective in managing caseloads. Among procedural changes, deciding appeals without opinion has the greatest impact, followed by limiting opinion publication. Using memo opinions, limiting oral arguments, and adding law clerks have moderate impacts. Changes having minimal impact on decision output include reducing panel size, using summary judgment procedures, and adding staff attorneys. Detailed information about research variables encompasses variable coding, definitions, data sources, and problems in variable construction. A discussion of data analysis techniques explores various regression designs and tests the impact of using different combinations of independent variables. Statistical data for the key variables. See NCJ 103761 for related document.