When was it published?

May 19, 1959 in The Farmville Herald

Domestic News May 19, 1959

The Farmville Herald

Q: What keywords are associated?

Federal Courts, Judicial Inefficiency, Senate Report, Juror Payments, Overcrowded Dockets

Farmville, Prince Edward County, Virginia

View full issue View on Library of Congress PDF Page 7

What is this article about?

Paul J. Cotter's 131-page report to the Senate Appropriations Committee exposes inefficiencies in U.S. federal courts, including cases delayed up to nine years and $1 million wasted on unneeded jurors in fiscal 1958, citing poor administration, vacancies, judge health, and insufficient staffing.

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OCR Quality

100% Excellent

Full Text

Delayed justice in the federal courts is one of the results of inefficiency in our judicial system. This was brought out in a 131-page report by staff investigator Paul J. Cotter to the Senate Appropriations Committee. Some cases have remained on the dockets for as long as nine years. The study showed that in fiscal 1958 one million dollars was paid to prospective jurors on days they were called but neither served nor were challenged. It said some district courts regularly called a great many more jurors than were needed.

The four principal causes of overcrowded calendars and inefficiency in the federal courts, according to Cotter, appear to be: poor administration, failure to fill vacancies, illness or advanced age of the judges, and too few judges to handle the work load.

What sub-type of article is it?

Legal Or Court

What keywords are associated?

Federal Courts Judicial Inefficiency Senate Report Juror Payments Overcrowded Dockets

What entities or persons were involved?

Paul J. Cotter

Domestic News Details

Event Date

Fiscal 1958

Key Persons

Paul J. Cotter

Outcome

some cases remained on dockets for as long as nine years; one million dollars paid to prospective jurors who neither served nor were challenged

Event Details

A 131-page report by staff investigator Paul J. Cotter to the Senate Appropriations Committee highlighted inefficiency in the federal judicial system, resulting in delayed justice. The study showed wasteful spending on jurors in fiscal 1958 and identified four principal causes of overcrowded calendars: poor administration, failure to fill vacancies, illness or advanced age of judges, and too few judges for the workload.