Summary Disposition: The New Hampshire Supreme Court's Innovative and Unique Approach to Appellate Case Processing

• NCJ Number: 107616
• Journal: New Hampshire Bar Journal Volume: 27 Issue: 4 Dated: (Summer 1986) Pages: 211-220
• Author(s): C G Douglas
• Date Published: 1986
• Length: 10 pages
• Publication Format: Article
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America
• Note: Adaptation of an article by the author which appeared in Judicature.

Annotation

The New Hampshire Supreme Court's summary disposition system permits justices to screen out insignificant cases so they can focus on cases deserving full appellate review.

Abstract

In 1979, the New Hampshire Supreme Court implemented the first complete revision of procedural rules since 1901. The rules provide for either declination or summary disposition. Under the new rules, the justices designed a system which allows selective multitrack handling of cases. Four tracks provide for declination or summary disposition, a prehearing evaluation conference to consider issues pertinent to expediting case processing, submission on briefs with no oral argument, and traditional appellate processing. Of the 589 cases docketed in 1982, 127 were summarily affirmed. Case screening is done by the justices. Under the old procedure, a significant amount of attorney time and client money was spent on record preparation. Under the new system, only deserving cases are briefed and transcripts prepared. Since the rules change, the appeals processing time has been reduced an average of almost one-half a year. 30 footnotes.