This study explores the socio-legal context of economic rationality in the legal and judicial systems. It examines the meaning and relevance of the concept of efficiency for the operation of courts and court systems,seeking to answer questions such as: in what sense can we say that the adjudicative process works efficiently? What are the relevant criteria for the measurement and assessment of court efficiency? Should the courts try to operate efficiently and to what extent is this viable? What is the proper relationship between 'efficiency' and 'justice' considerations in a judicial proceeding? To answer these questions, a conceptual framework is developed on the basis of empirical studies and surveys carried out mainly in the United States, Western Europe and Latin America. Two basic ideas emerge from it. First, economic rationality has penetrated the legal and judicial systems at all levels and dimensions, from the level of society as a whole to the day-to-day operation of the courts, from the institutional dimension of adjudication to the organizational context of judicial decisions. Far from being an alien value in the judicial process, efficiency has become an inseparable part of the structure of expectations we place on the legal system. Second, economic rationality is not the prevalent value in legal decision-making, as it is subject to all kinds of constraints, local conditions and concrete negotiations with other values and interests.

Justice and Efficiency in Mega-Litigation explores the phenomenon of extremely long-running, resource-intensive civil litigation known as 'mega-litigation'. Such litigation challenges the courts to reconcile the objectives of justice and efficiency – for the parties to the case and for the community. Drawing on interviews with judges of the courts of England and Wales, and of Australia, this book shows how judges have responded to these challenges. It situates mega-litigation within broader developments in civil procedure and case management, as well as theoretical debates about the role of courts and the purpose of civil procedure. The book highlights the importance of intensive, creative and flexible case management; focus on the issues in dispute; and, ultimately, each judge's expert intuition.

Using real world cases, this book reveals the tendency of magistrates’ courts to prioritise efficiency over substantive justice. Yates offers insights into the ways criminal courts can increase their speediness and cost-effectiveness, whilst upholding social justice and procedural due process.

World Bank Technical Paper no. 430.QUOTEMany countries are undertaking legal and judicial reforms as part of their overall development programs; there is increasing recognition that economic and social progress requires consolidation of democracy as well as respect for the rule of law and human rights; without these development is not sustainable.QUOTEMany developing countries find that their judiciaries are inconsistent in conflict resolution and carry a large backlog of cases, thus stifling private-sector growth, eroding individual and property rights, and perhaps even violating human rights. Delays affect both the fairness and the efficiency of the system. They impede the public's access to the courts, which, in effect, weakens democracies, the rule of law and the ability to enforce human rights. This paper aims to describe and explain the performance of court systems in a sample of developing and developed countries in order to provide data to those designing or evaluating reforms. The study also seeks to show areas in which international comparison of judicial performance can be fruitful, suggesting indicators that can be used in such comparisons. Finally, it endeavors to provide comparisons of performance within individual countries over time.

The new Edition of the report of the European Commission for the Efficiency of Justice (CEPEJ), which evaluates the functioning of the judicial systems in 45 Council of Europe’s member states and an observer state to the CEPEJ, Israël, remains in line with the process carried out since 2002. Relying on a methodology which is already a reference for collecting and processing a wide number of quantitative and qualitative judicial data, this unique study has been conceived above all as a tool for public policy aimed at improving the efficiency and the quality of justice. To have the knowledge in order to be able to understand, analyse and reform, such is the objective of the CEPEJ which has prepared this report, intended for policy makers, legal practitioners, researchers as well as for those who are interested in the functioning of justice in Europe.

Privatization is occurring throughout the public justice system, including courts, tribunals, and state-sanctioned private dispute resolution regimes. Driven by a widespread ethos of efficiency-based civil justice reform, privatization claims to decrease costs, increase speed, and improve access to the tools of justice. But it may also lead to procedural unfairness, power imbalances, and the breakdown of our systems of democratic governance. Civil Justice, Privatization, and Democracy demonstrates the urgent need to publicize, politicize, debate, and ultimately temper these moves towards privatized justice. Written by Trevor C.W. Farrow, a former litigation lawyer and current Chair of the Canadian Forum on Civil Justice, Civil Justice, Privatization, and Democracy does more than just bear witness to the privatization initiatives that define how we think about and resolve almost all non-criminal disputes. It articulates the costs and benefits of these privatizing initiatives, particularly their potential negative impacts on the way we regulate ourselves in modern democracies, and it makes recommendations for future civil justice practice and reform.

This study of the English judiciary stimulates a discussion of the factors shaping judicial independence, including accountability and constitutional adjudication.

This report provides an in-depth analysis of Peru’s justice system and offers concrete recommendations, based on OECD countries' experience and best practices, for how to make it more effective, efficient, transparent, accessible, and people-centred. Building on the OECD’s Recommendation on Access to Justice and People-Centred Justice Systems, the report suggests how Peru can best implement its challenging justice reform agenda so that access to justice is available to all, including the most in need.

This comprehensive Encyclopedia is an essential reference text for students, scholars and practitioners in public management. Offering a broad and inter-cultural perspective on public management as a field of practice and science, it covers all the most relevant and contemporary terms and concepts, comprising 78 entries written by nearly 100 leading international scholars.

The new edition of the report of the European Commission For The Efficiency of Justice (CEPEJ), which evaluates the functioning of the judicial systems of 45 Council of Europe member states, remains in line with the process carried out since 2002. it relies on a methodology, which has already proved itself, To collect and process a wide range of quantitative and qualitative judicial data. This unique study has been conceived above all as a public policy tool aimed at improving the efficiency And The quality of justice. The CEPEJ's objective is to have the knowledge in order to be able to understand, analyse and reform. This report is intended for policy makers, legal practitioners and researchers as well as for those who are interested in the functioning of justice in Europe.