JUDICIAL CIRCUITS ATTACK BACKLOG OF CASES

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NEWSLETTER OF THE ALABAMA JUDICIAL SYSTEM

Vol ume 6 / ~ u m b e r 8

August, 1982

JUDICIAL CIRCUITS ATTACK BACKLOG OF CASES

Ettwrk Implements Cinuit Court Relorms

I n l e s s than one year, t h e Etowah County C i r c u i t Court reduced i t s pending

c r i m i n a l caseload from 1,153 t o 265 cases. "This 77 percent r e d u c t i o n i n pend-

i n g c r i m i n a l caseload was brought of a l l components of t h e county's

about by criminal

th ju

e st

har ice

dswysotrekman-dc

cooper ircuit

ative s judges,

p

i

r

i

t

d i s t r i c t a t t o r n e y ' s office, c i r c u i t c l e r k ' s o f f i c e , and defense attorneys,"

s a i d Judge J u l i u s S. Swann, p r e s i d i n g c i r c u i t judge.

I n t h e summer of 1981, t h e c i r c u i t judges o f Etowah County undertook a study

of t h e i r criminal court procedures w i t h the help o f t h e State T r i a l Court Oper-

ations Division o f the Administrative O f f i c e o f Courts. Pending case f i l e s

were reviewed, t i m e lapse i n f o r m a t i o n was gathered and each step o f t h e c r i m i -

n a l case process was studied. F o l l owing t h i s p r e l iminary research, t h e c i r c u i t

judges and t h e State T r i a l Court Operations s t a f f met numerous times t o work out a detailed case

......................

*

*

managwent system. A t t h e request

o f the c i r c u i t judges, a group o f

c r i m i n a l defense 1awyers worked

j o i n t l y with the court t o develop

t h e system.

Implementation o f t h e new sys-

tern began i n Oct. 1981 and by Jan.

1982, a11 components o f t h e system

were i n operation. " I n developing

a c r i m i n a l case management system,

our goal was t o reduce t h e pending

caseload and t o speed up t h e pro-

cessing of c r i m i n a l cases," s a i d

9~ u

gaa

e,d

Swann. To accomplish t h i s t h e bench and bar of Etowah

County set f o r t h the followlng

o b j e c t i v e s which were t o be met:

** Mablk Institutes 'Crash Docketw Program **

*

The Mobile C i r c u it C o u r t ' s crash *

* *

program t o reduce the heavy backlog o f c r i m i n a l cases was a f a n t a s t i c

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* *

success, according t o Presiding Judge Robert E. Hodnette, J r .

* *

*

Four hundred s i x cases were wiped *

* o f f the criminal docket by t r y i n g

*

* nothing but criminal cases during the *

* two weeks ending J u l y 2, 1982. "It *

* was a tremendous undertaking and i t s * success can be a t t r i b u t e d t o t h e

* *

* splendid cooperation o f judges, the *

* clerk's staff, prosecutors, dnd attor- *

* *

neys. gangb

usEteversry,o"nJeudcagmeeHtohdr

ough nette

1ike declared.

* *

*

C h i e f J u s t i c e C. C. Torbert, Jr., .k

Maintain pending criminal caseload a t approximately 250 cases;

(Continued On Page 2, C u Z m 1 )

* assigned five judges t o Mobile during *

* t h e two weeks t o a s s i s t t h e s i x

* *

(Cont-ir~uedt h /)ugc 2, L'U Zwrm 2)

* * *

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Court News

(Continued From Page 1, Cobma 1)

Dispose of criminal cases w i t h i n an

average of 90 days from f n d t c t m n t ;

I~t .

Randomly assign cases u t i l iz i n g an

individual calendar ;

Combine c i v i 1 and c r irninal terms o f court;

*Increase the frequency o f grand j u r y terms ;

Schedule arraignments wi t h i n 12 t o 14 days f o l l o w i n g each term of the grand jury;

*Announce t r i a l dates a t arraignment;

Announce y o u t h f u l offender hearings a t arraignment;

Adopt and p u b l i s h a s t r i c t case con-

tinuance policy.

, "The goals and objectives o f t h e new

criminal case management system required

sweeping changes i n the c o u r t ' s proce-

dures and provided a system by which t h e

c o u r t can stay ahead o f the increased

f i l i n g s , " said Tom Davis, president o f

the Etowah County Bar Association.

The establishment o f a maximum number

o f criminal pending cases helps t o ensure

t h a -t t-he- c r i m i n a l caseload w i l l n o t b e c m

backlogged i n the future. A 90-day goal

from indictment t o disposition helps t o

ensure t h a t a11 defendants receive equal

a t t e n t i o n and are afforded a speedy t r i a l .

The random assignment o f cases and t h e

i n d i v i d u a l calendar gives each judge more

r e s p o n s i b i l i t y and a t the same time provides more c o n t r o l over casqflow. Under

the new system, each judge manages the

cases posi t

assigned t o him from f ion. As c i rcumstances

iling permi

tt,ot

dis he

-

judges "back-up" f e l l o w judges when par-

t i c u l a r cases require lengthy t r i a l s .

Combining t h e c r i m i n a l and c i v i l j u r y

terms provides the c o u r t more f l e x i b i l i -

ty i n the schedul i n g o f cases. This new

procedure as well as increasing t h e num-

ber o f grand j u r y terms has helped t o

. d i s t r i b u t e the workloads i n the d i s t r i c t

a t t o r n e y ' s and c l e r k ' s o f f i c e s more

evenly.

Scheduling arraignments within 12 to

14 days f o l l o w i n g t h e grand j u r y ensures

minimum delay from indictment t o arraign-

ment. One judge holds arraignments and

(continued On Page 31

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Page 2

(C011.t.i-d f ~ mPage I , CoZumn 21

l a r Judge$ assigned to t h e c o u r t ' s

c i v i l and c r i r ~ i n a ldockets. Judge

e

Hadnette was especial ly compl imentary

of these judges. "Glf thatst t h e i r he1p, Idon't t h l n k we could have succeeded ,"

k,said.

Judges assigned t o Mobile during t h e

two weeks were COrcuit Judges Bobby R.

M e r h o l t , bfa3eyville; T e l f a i r J. Mash-

burn, Bay M i nette; James A. Avary,

LaFayette; Paul J. M i l l e r , Phenix City;

and Inge Johnson, TuscwbSa.

Of t h e 728 cases s e t f o r t r i a l during

t h e two-week 'crime blitz," 406 were

disposed. The 322 remaining cases w i l l

be r e s e t and t r i e d a t a l a t e r date,

accor8ing t o jvdge Hsdnette who planned

and d9rected the prwram.

When queried as t o plans f o r

yrms" another suck "crash p

W n e t t a stated, "We w f 1 asseJsusdgoeur

dockets i n about s i x months and decide."

Catherine My, deputy c l e r k i n

charge of the court's criminal d i v i -

sion, directed the admfnistration o f

t h e program. A t i t s conclusion, she

u t t e r e d q weary s i g h and headed t o t h e

beach f o r a we1l-earned r e s t .

bses Set for Trlal ...................................... 728

CIPM Disposed...........................................4M

JuCkryqonuTv1rltcltatEllosln.s.o................................................................12.06.... 45

Gullty Plms.. .........................254

.......... Dfwl ssals and )lo? Presses..

.!I4

Cases Cawad Over.......................................322

Wfstrfals.............................. 4

Cases Crowded Out...................... 28

/

... Cases Passed en htlon of Defense.. .I35

........ Cases P a o d MI ation of State

22

Cases Passed by Cansent................ 69

Court News.

(Cont;nued From Page 2 )

@ announces t h e t r i a l terms as s e t by the judge assigned t o a p a r t i c u l a r case. Newly arraigned defendants receive t r i a l dates f o r the f o l l o w i n g month. A calendar c l e r k p o s i t i o n was establ i s h e d t o t r a c k a l l c r i m i n a l cases. The c l e r k monitors caseflow, follows up on any problems such as attorney c o n f l i c t s , coordinates a11 caseflow a c t i v i t y and pub1 ishes t h e t r i a l docket. The docket displays each judge's s e t t i n g s f o r each day o f t h e t r i a l term. The calendar c l e r k i s also responsible f o r 1i n i n g up t h e n e x t d a y ' s cases a t t h e end o f each day o f the t r i a l term. Case s t a t u s r e p o r t s prepared by t h e calendar clerk provide the judges with workload i n f o r m a t i o n which a i d s them i n planning t h e i r calendars. Through the reports, judges can i d e n t i f y caseflow problems a t an e a r l y stage and a c t on them i n a t i m e l y fashion. I n t h e 16th C i r c u i t , t h i s i n f o r m a t i o n has been computerized; however, a condensed version o f these r e p o r t s can be produced i n courts where computer resources are n o t available. As a r e s u l t o f t h e success gained i n the c r i m i n a l d i v i s i o n , work has already begun on a case management p l a n f o r t h e c i v i l d i v i s i o n . The c i v i l system w i l l embody concepts s i m i l a r t o those u t i l i z ed i n t h e criminal d i v i s i o n , such as pending caseload and time-frame goals and a case monitoring system. Additionally, the c i v i l division w i l l feature a scheduling conference. This i s a b r i e f 10-1 5 minute conference which w i l l be h e l d on a11 new c i v i l cases approximatel y 90 days a f t e r f i l i n g . E s s e n t i a l l y , the conference i s a planning session i n which t h e judge and attorneys can determine the most acceptable time frames f o r completion o f motions, discovery, and

p r e - t r i a l ( i f necessary) and e s t a b l i s h a f i r m t r i a l date.

Page 3-

We Couldn't Have Said It Better I

The f o l l o w i n g appeared i n t h e M o b i l e Press Register:

Jury Service

Because a new system i s used t o s e l e c t jurors, your chance t o serve i s greater than ever before.

When you r e c e i v e y o u r i n v i t a t i o n , be a t t h e courthouse a t t h e t i m e shown on t h e notice.

Stick a note under your windshield wipe r s t a t i n g y o u r name and t h a t you a r e serving on t h e county j u r y . This w i l l enable you t o park f r e e i n the auditorium parking l o t . Following a short walk, you enter t h e county courthouse and take t h e e l evat o r t o the second f l o o r . Located on t h i s f l o o r , you w i l l go t o an e x c l u s i v e assemb l y room f o r j u r o r s only. Here you w i l l be served " j a i l house coffee."

The w a l l c l o c k i n t h e assembly room does n o t work properly, b u t t h e c o u r t c l e r k w i l l g l a d l y synchronize watches w i t h you and w i l l a l s o h e l p make you g l a d t h a t you came.

Around the w a l l s o f t h e assembly room a r e hung p i c t u r e s o f 32 judges. These pictures appear t o approve o f you f o l k s who make up these panels.

As a j u r o r , you a r e a v e r y i m p o r t a n t part o f the structure o f law that prev a i l s over our nation. Jury duty, as voting i n elections, i s a privilege that i s t h e envy o f nunierous areas of t h e world. You w i l l l e a r n how i m p o r t a n t j u rors are i n helping t o protect yourself and y o u r neighbors from those who " p l a n and p e r s i s t " i n t r o u b l i n g and h u r t i n g t h e i r f e l l ow beings.

Based on evidence presented t o you as a j u r o r , you w i l l be asked t o make d e c i sions t h a t are impartial even i f the a t t o r n e y s i n v o l v e d a r e persuasive. You w i l l know t h e s a t i s f a c t i o n o f h e l p i n g solve the ever present problem o f crime.

--RALPH HUGHES P. 0. Box 344 Theodore

Court News

Alabama Juvenile Crime Rate Decreases

Page 4-

According t o a recent report prepared f o r the Jefferson County Family Court,

Alabama j u v e n i l e s accounted f o r 10% o f a l l a r r e s t s f o r v i o l e n t crimes i n 1977

w h i l e i n 1980, t h i s f i g u r e dropped t o 8.3%. The r e p o r t , prepared by Dr. Howard N. Snyder, d i r e c t o r of Systems and I n f o r mation Research, National Center o f Juveni l e Justice, a l s o indicated t h a t between 1977 and 1980 j u v e n i l e a r r e s t s f o r v i o l e n t crimes i n Alabama decreased by 10%. A

v i o l e n t j u v e n i l e offender i s defined as "an i n d i v i d u a l below t h e age o f 18 who i s charged w i t h one o f t h e f o l l o w i n g

crimes: murder o r non-negligent manslaughter, forcible rape, robbery, or

aggravated assault. "

I n the report, Dr. Synder stated t h a t much o f t h e decrease i n t h e number o f j u veniles arrested f o r v i o l e n t crimes can be explained by t h e d e c l i n e i n c h i l d popu l a t i o n between 1977 and 1980. However, i n 1977, t h e r a t e of j u v e n i l e a r r e s t s f o r

v i o l e n t crime i n Alabama was 1.25 f o r every 1000 c h i l d r e n below t h e age o f 18 w h i l e i n 1980 t h i s r a t e dropped t o 1.19.

Focusing on J e f f e r s o n County, t h e r e p o r t i n d i c a t e d t h a t when comparing t h a t count-y w i t h the other counties o f the

state-, t h e r a t e o f v i o l e n t j u v e n i l e cases i n J e f f e r s o n County i n 1979 was 2.4, compared t o 1.4 e l sewhere i n A1abama. How-

ever, when comparing J e f f e r s o n County and other urbanized areas across the country, the r a t e o f v i o l e n t j u v e n i l e cases i n Jefferson County was s u b s t a n t i a l l y lower than i n other similar jurisdictions. I n Jefferson County f o r every 1000 c h i l d r e n between the ages o f 10 and 17, t h e juven-

i l e c o u r t disposed o f 2.4 cases i n 1979, compared w i t h an average case r a t e i n s i m i l a r urbanized j u r i s d i c t i o n s o f 3.7. This difference i n case rates indicates a lower incidence o f v i o l e n t behavior among t h e c h i l d r e n o f Jefferson County compared t o other urbanized areas.

Though t h e r a t e o f v i o l e n t crime arr e s t s o f Alabama j u v e n i l e s and t h e number o f v i o l e n t crime cases seen by t h e Alabama j u v e n i 1e c o u r t s have decreased, A1abama judges have increased t h e number of

juveniles that are transferred t o criminal c o u r t . Based on i n f o r m a t i o n from t h e

National Center For Juvenile Justice, Alabama's t r a n s f e r r a t e i s s t e a d i l y increasing. I n comparing Alabama t o a sample o f n i n e o t h e r s t a t e s i n 1979, Alabama juveni l e c o u r t s t r a n s f e r r e d 6.4% of t h e 16-and17-year-old serious offenders who came before then1 w h i l e t h e t r a n s f e r r a t e f o r such offenders i n the r e s t o f the sample was o n l y 1.8%. These s t a t i s t i c s suggest t h a t j u v e n i l e c o u r t judges i n Alabama have a d i f f e r e n t perception toward serious juv e n i l e offenders as compared t o judges i n s t a t e s where t h e upper age o f j u r i s d i c t i o n has remained 18 f o r many years. As shown by t h e t r a n s f e r r a t e , j u v e n i l e c o u r t judges i n Alabama, who a r e more accustomed t o dealing w i t h younger less serious offenders, perceive t h a t a g r e a t e r number o f t h e o l d e r serious offenders a r e n o t amenab1e t o j u v e n i l e treatment.

,,,

300

*0?

Ape of Jurisdf~tlon Increased t o 17 Jan. 1. 1977

court News

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NEWS FROM THE JUDICIAL COLLEGE

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JUDICIAL SECRETARIES HOLD ANNUAL CONFERENCE

Approximately 125 c i r c u i t , d i s t r i c t , appel-

l a t e and administrativz court secretaries from a l l over Alabama met in Tuscaloosa July7-9for

the annual Judicial Secretaries Education Conference.

Presidirlg over the conference were Sandra G. Huovinen of Montgomery, president o f t h e Alabama Association of Circuit Judges' Secretaries, and Jacqueline C. Heartsill of Hayneville,

president of the Alabama Association of Dis-

t r i c t Judges ' Secretaries.

' OFFICERS, DISTRICT JUDGES SECRETARIES

' OFFICERS, CIRCUIT JUDGES SECRETARIES

During the conference, meetings of the two secretarial associations were held. The newly elected officers of the Association of Circuit Judges' Secretaries are Sharon Goldman, president; Faye Edmondson, 1 s t vice president; Teresa Cox, 2nd vice president; Pat Kirkland, secretary and Marilyn Michael, treasurer. The new officer of the Association of District Judges Secretarie are Marvagene Clark, president; Cynthia Yelverto vice president; Beverly Floyd, secretary; Cheryl Hawkins, treasurer; and Carolyn Rea, historian.

TEACHER WORKSHOP HELD IN TUSCALOOSA JULY 18-24

A teacher workshop on the Alabama Court System, conducted for a second year, was held a t the Judicial College in Tuscaloosa July 18-24. Twenty-nine teachers, representing 26 different c i t y and county school systems, attended the week-1 ong workshop which was jointly sponsored by the Administrative Office of Courts and the Division of Continuing Education a t the University of Alabama.

The course, designed for eighth-grade civics and law teachers and 1 2 t h grade government and economics teachers, i s r u n in two phases. "The workshop portion gives the social studies teachers background know1edge for teaching l aw-re1 ated education. The second part of the course requires the teachers to go back to t h e i r individual school systems and hold an in-service program f o r a l l other eighth and 1 2 t h grade social studies teachers in t h e i r system," explained Thelma Braswell, director of the Judicial College. The participants receive three hours of graduate credit for each part of the course.

The sessions of the workshop, which dealt with the various court processes and jurisdictions, were presented by judges and other court o f f i c i a l s and by representatives from a l l areas of the criminal justice system.

(Continued On Page 6 )

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