Better Management Can Ease Federal Civil Case Backlog

摘要

The number of pending civil cases in Federal district courts increased over 70,000 between 1974 and 1979, creating a concern on the part of the Congress, the Judiciary, the Department of Justice, and the public. GAO visited nine courts and found that the intensity of the backlog problem was directly related to the efficiency of case management. Ineffective use of personnel and an inadequate number of judges also affected the processing of civil cases. GAO recommends modifying the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure as an appropriate way to help reduce the backlog. The Administrative Office of the United States Courts disagrees. In contrast, four chief judges and the Justice Department agree that a modification providing for flexible time frames would improve the efficiency of the civil process.