U. S. Judicial System

- Bar Association action

Defense Counsel

• Public Defenders
• Court Appointed
• Private Attorney

Prosecuting Attorneys

• State and Local Level

- City Attorney

- County Attorney

- District Attorney

- State Attorney General

• Federal Level

- District Attorney

- Attorney General

- Solicitor General

Sentencing Disparity Reforms

• Move to a determinate sentencing model
• Create sentencing panels (ala sporting events)
• Sentencing seminars and conferences
• Share sentencing information
• Appellate review of sentences

Case Backlogs and Delays

• Delay in getting to trial
• Long trials
• Problems for prosecutors

- longer the delay, less likely a conviction

- testilying issues

• Problems for the defense

- uncertainy, socio-economic disruption, loss of freedom

- testilying issues

Case Backlog and Delay Reforms

• Greater use of associate judges
• Expand the use of pretrial hearings and conferences
• One day trials
• Set the precise court date at the arraignment/initial appearance
• Individualized docket

Case Backlog and Delay Reforms…continued

• No plea bargaining within 24 hours of trial
• Reduce the number of continuances allowed (virtually none within 24 hours of trial)
• Extend court hours
• Trial festivals
• Borrow judges from rural areas

Case Backlog and Delay Reforms…continued

• Rent a judge/Special Masters (civil options)
• Increase the number of waiverable offenses (and utilize the day fine concept)
• Adopt the “English Rule”
• Greater use of community courts

Community Courts/Neighborhood Justice Centers

Sent to the Community Court by:

a. Police in lieu of arrest