In Support of Effective and Efficient Case Management

Resolution 4: In Support of Effective and Efficient Case Management

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WHEREAS, the Conference of Chief Justices and the Conference of State Court Administrators recognize the importance of efficient and effective case management for all criminal, civil and family law case types to ensure fair processes and just outcomes for persons coming before the courts; and

WHEREAS, the Conferences further recognize that attention to timely case processing and reduction of delay is integral to court leaders' efforts to deliver on guarantees to the right to due process and the right to a speedy and public trial, as well as to improve procedural fairness and racial justice; and

WHEREAS, the Conferences have previously adopted resolutions to simplify court processes to allow self-represented litigants to participate in the justice system and be treated fairly;¹ to develop best practices and resources, improve caseflow management, promote education, and build the capacity of state courts to improve the justice system response to mental illness; ² improve and expedite the processing of child abuse and neglect cases with the goal of placing children in permanent and safe homes and improving outcomes for children, and collecting data to ensure timeliness of case processing and monitor court performance;³ and make recommendations as necessary in the area of caseflow management for the purpose of improving the civil justice system in the state courts;⁴ and

WHEREAS, research demonstrates that the principles of effective case management encompass: (1) leadership and collaboration, (2) proactive and flexible triage, (3) predictable and productive court events, (4) user-centered processes, and (5) data-driven performance management; and

WHEREAS, the COVID-19 pandemic demonstrated that courts can make large-scale meaningful changes to streamline and improve existing policies and procedures to improve case management, including the use of new technologies; and

WHEREAS, there is a clear need to revisit traditional case processing practices to ensure effective caseflow management in this new post-pandemic era; and

WHEREAS, the National Center for State Courts has been awarded grant funding from the John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation to promote and support national, state, and local court leadership in effective criminal caseflow management by convening five regional summits on state court leadership to promote effective criminal caseflow management;

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, that the Conference of Chief Justices and Conference of State Court Administrators reaffirm their commitment to effective and efficient case management for all criminal, civil, and family law case types and urge the National Center for State Courts to develop new resources and tools to facilitate better caseflow outcomes for all court users; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that the Conferences urge their members to review their own case management practices and to send a state team to one of the regional summits on state court leadership to promote effective criminal caseflow management.

Adopted as proposed by the CCJ/COSCA Criminal Justice and Court Management Committees at the CCJ/COSCA Annual Meeting on August 2, 2023.