Analyzing Trial Time in California, Colorado, and New Jersey, 1986
Description
This study of nine courts was undertaken to identify
procedural factors that can be used to reduce the length of criminal
and civil trials without impairing fairness. The data collection
provides direct information on the actual amount of time consumed by
various trial segments and the perceived length of trial segments as
gauged by judges and attorneys. In addition, data are supplied on the
legal community's attitudes toward existing trial length, reasons for
it, and judicial control over it. The trial case file contains
information on types of cases and trials, estimated trial length, type
of disposition, type of defense attorney, number of claims,
cross-claims, and counterclaims, number of exhibits introduced, number
of expert and lay witnesses called by the defense, number of
peremptory challenges, and day and time the trial ended. The
questionnaire data contain information on professional experiences,
number of cases tried per month, opinions about time consumed by each
segment of the trial, estimated time used in each segment, and
attitudes toward judicial control over the trial length.