Case Management Procedures in the Federal Courts of Appeals

摘要

One of the primary mandates of the Federal Judicial Center is 'to further thedevelopment and adoption of improved judicial administration' in the courts of the United States. Included in this is the direction to provide 'research and planning assistance to the Judicial Conference and its committees.' It is this latter part of the charge that was the impetus for the study presented here. Beginning with a request from the Judicial Conference of the United States, and amplified by further queries from the Judicial Conference Committee on Court Administration and Case Management, the Center has synthesized various data to demonstrate once again the variety of practices and procedures that can comfortably co-exist under the umbrella of the Federal Rules. The end value of studies like this, however, is not simply to demonstrate how culture and tradition vary the interpretation of rules. The ultimate benefit comes from the exchange of ideas and flow of information, stimulating new methods of case management and docket control that benefit not only the courts, but the end users: those who come before the courts.