Objective

2.1 To encourage timely case management and processing.

Intent of the Objective

The American Bar Association, the Conference of Chief Justices, and the Conference of State Court Administrators have all recommended that courts adopt processing time standards. The Louisiana Supreme Court adopted aspirational time standards in 1993 for itself, the courts of appeal, and for general civil, summary civil, and domestic relations cases at the district court level. At the Supreme Court and the courts of appeal, performance against time standards is measured using automated case management information systems. At the district court level, however, performance against time standards cannot be easily measured due to generally low levels of automation in the courts. Time standards are also included in the Louisiana Children’s Code in the form of maximum time limits for the holding of hearings in Child in Need of Care cases and other types of juvenile cases. However, performance against these time standards cannot be easily measured due to a general lack of automation in the courts handling these cases. This objective focuses on strategies for developing interim manual case management systems and techniques while automated case management information systems are being developed. The objective also focuses on timeliness as it relates to the commencement of proceedings.

Responses To Objective

1. Actions taken in FY 2014-2015 to reduce delays and improve case management.