Performance of the Courts of Appeal

Fiscal Year 2015 - 2016

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GOAL 1: TO PROTECT THE RULE OF LAW


Objective

1.2 To develop, clarify, and unify the law.

Intent of the Objective

The courts of appeal contribute to the development and unification of the law by resolving conflicts and by addressing ambiguities in the law. Our complex society turns to the law to resolve disputes left unaddressed by the authors of previously established legal precepts. Interpretation of legal principles contained in state and federal constitutions and statutory enactments is at the heart of the appellate adjudicative process.

Responses To Objective

  1. Actions taken during FY 2015-2016 to develop, clarify, and unify the law.

QuestionIdQuestionStatementResponse
1010682513 What actions, if any, did your court take during the reporting period to develop, clarify, and unify the law? Actions taken during FY 2015-2016 to develop, clarify, and unify the law.
(Hover on the chart for more information and click on the chart to see which courts chose that response.)
Actions taken during FY 2015-2016 to develop, clarify, and unify the law.
Additional actions taken by the courts to address this objective
1st Circuit
The First Circuit adopted an annual set schedule of writ conferences and administrative conferences at the court to facilitate conferencing in person. The court's document management system allowed court judges and staff to electronically search and review decisions, both published and unpublished, and internal reports to ensure uniformity in First Circuit decisions. As needed, the court sat en banc during this time period in order to clarify and unify prior court decisions.
2nd Circuit
The Second Circuit maintained ongoing strategies and efforts to provide qualified legal support staff, cost-effective electronic legal research, and pre-and-post argument conferences to clarify and unify the law.
3rd Circuit
This court continued its recent developments seminar for district and city judges within the circuit at the annual Third Circuit Judges Association meeting and its annual August seminar for judges and their law clerks. Judges and staff attorneys of the Third Circuit also participated in recent development seminars for the local bar associations of Lafayette, Marksville, Leesville, Alexandria, and the Southwest Louisiana Bar Association.
4th Circuit
Fourth Circuit judges met with the judges of the Orleans Criminal District Court to discuss ways to improve the way certain matters are communicated between our respective courts.
ResponseResponse_Court
Additional actions taken by the courts to address this objective4 courts (1st Circuit, 2nd Circuit, 3rd Circuit, 4th Circuit)
Conducted discussions between trial court judges and appellate court judges regarding issues of law3 courts (3rd Circuit, 4th Circuit, 5th Circuit)
Continued to address this objective through the actions indicated below, or implemented the following new actions to address this objective as indicated below:5 courts (1st Circuit, 2nd Circuit, 3rd Circuit, 4th Circuit, 5th Circuit)
Created or maintained a docket management system for electronically searching prior decisions4 courts (1st Circuit, 3rd Circuit, 4th Circuit, 5th Circuit)
Developed or maintained specific strategies for encouraging and promoting effective collegiality among judges4 courts (1st Circuit, 3rd Circuit, 4th Circuit, 5th Circuit)
Developed or updated a standardized form of opinions2 courts (3rd Circuit, 5th Circuit)
Did not address this objective0
Obtained or maintained sufficient legal resources to facilitate the clarification, harmonization, and development of the law5 courts (1st Circuit, 2nd Circuit, 3rd Circuit, 4th Circuit, 5th Circuit)
Used pre- and post-argument conferences5 courts (1st Circuit, 2nd Circuit, 3rd Circuit, 4th Circuit, 5th Circuit)

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