Caseflow Management

Effective caseflow management—i.e., the management of individual cases and overall caseloads, to assure fair and timely resolution of disputes that come to the courts—is a core function of courts. Indeed, it is the heart of the business of courts and of the overall justice system.

JMI has been involved in work on caseflow management—conducting research, providing technical assistance, and conducting educational programs for practitioners—since its inception, and is regarded as a leading organization in the field.  In recent years, JMI has conducted action-oriented studies of case processing in the following jurisdictions:

  • King County (Seattle), Washington
  • Pierce County (Tacoma), Washington
  • Fulton County ( Atlanta), Georgia
  • Cuyahoga County (Cleveland), Ohio
  • Harris County (Houston), Texas

These single-jurisdiction studies have always produced reports with recommendations for specific action to improve court and system operation.  One of the key themes from this work has consistently been the importance of inter-institutional collaboration in implementing needed changes.  There is much that courts can do to convene stakeholders and lead reform efforts, but little will be accomplished if there is not a significant degree of cooperation and collaboration across institutional boundaries.

To help increase understanding of the issues and foster collaboration by leaders and line staff in the courts and the various agencies involved in case processing, JMI often conducts workshops and seminars focused on the fundamentals of caseflow management—key concepts, principles and techniques that, if understood and applied, can lead to significantly fairer, more efficient, and more effective processes.