NCJ Number
75546
Date Published
1980
Length
21 pages
Annotation
This report contains a retrospective and prospective commentary on the management side of the courts, drawing on the proceedings of the July 1979 Conference of the Institute for Court Management at Wingspread in Racine, Wis.
Abstract
Four major developments of the 1970's were discussed: the professionalization of court administration, increased judicial responsibility for active case management, changes in State court organization and attitudes, and the role of technology. Specifically, courts increasingly rely on professional court administration education and experience when choosing a court administrator. Further, the number of State-level court administrators has doubled since 1969. These administrators have brought skills of implementation and development to the courts in such areas as establishing and maintaining management systems for the court's records, personnel, or finances. The 1970's may also be recognized for increases both in court unification and in questioning the rhetoric urging unification. In addition, courts have needed to choose technological support staff who understand the new technology. Looking prospectively to the 1980's, the report considers changes in the roles of courts, judges, and court administrators, and in how courts deal with such external entities as legislatures and the press. The report concludes that courts, like other institutions, are faced with an accelerating pace of change, an increasing shortage of resources, and growing constraints on leadership and authority. Texts of two addresses by the participants in the conference and a list of the participants are appended. Information on Wingspread is included.