Lorri Montgomery Carolyn A. Tyler (Williamsburg, VA) August 3, 2016 — A just-released report recommending concrete improvements in the American civil justice system has been endorsed by the Conference of Chief Justices (CCJ), the country’s association of top state judicial leaders. The report—released last week at CCJ’s annual conference in Jackson, Wyoming—calls on state judicial leaders to implement 13 recommendations, and was produced in conjunction with the National Center for State Courts (NCSC) and the Institute for the Advancement of the American Legal System (IAALS). The State Justice Institute (SJI) provided funding. The report was simultaneously endorsed by the Conference of State Court Administrators (COSCA). “This is a call to action for state court leaders across the country,” said Chief Justice Thomas A. Balmer of Oregon, who chaired the committee that produced the report. “Our courts need to resolve disputes fairly—but also at lower cost and with less delay. The support of the Conference of Chief Justices is vital, and now we turn to working with judicial leaders to implement these proven recommendations.” The report—entitled “Call to Action: Achieving Civil Justice for All”—is the result of more than two years' worth of research and discussion by a blue-ribbon group of legal and judicial leaders. The committee included state chief justices, trial court judges, court administrators, attorneys and academics. The recommendations are designed to meet the challenges of contemporary civil caseloads by taking advantage of modern technologies and highly trained court staff to provide effective oversight and timely intervention to move civil cases to resolution. They present a comprehensive framework that features:
“We need a legal process that can fairly and promptly resolve disputes for all Americans,” said Mary McQueen, president of the National Center for State Courts. “These recommendations, when implemented, will enhance public confidence in our system of civil justice.” “The civil justice system is mired in misperceptions and inefficiencies,” said IAALS Executive Director and former Colorado Supreme Court Justice Rebecca Love Kourlis. “The recommendations for change that the Chief Justices just approved are grounded in broad experience and data; and they are innovative, forward-looking, and inspiring.” The full report is available at ncsc.org/civil. Both NCSC and IAALS have committed to working with state courts to implement the recommendations. The National Center for State Courts, headquartered in Williamsburg, Va., is a nonprofit court organization dedicated to improving the administration of justice by providing leadership and service to the state courts. Founded in 1971 by the Conference of Chief Justices and Chief Justice of the United States Warren E. Burger, NCSC provides education, training, technology, management, and research services to the nation’s state courts. |
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