Courts Commons^™

Excessive Delay In The Courts: Toward A Continuance Policy Relating To Counsel And Parties, Thomas O. Gorman

Cleveland State Law Review

The maxim "Justice delayed is justice denied" is an expression which is becoming all too meaningful in our courts today. Many of the large metropolitan courts in this country are being strangled by the ever-increasing backlog of cases. ...In most court systems, continuance policies are either non-existent or couched in vague terms such as "good cause shown.' It is the aim of this study to formulate guidelines for a sound continuance policy which will serve to speed the administration of justice without interfering with the high standard of judicial fairness necessary to proper adjudication.

Social And Political Aspects Of Civil Procedure--Reforms And Trends In Western And Eastern Europe, Mauro Cappellitti

Michigan Law Review

It is my intention first to analyze the reforms accomplished in Europe in the relatively recent past. I shall then turn to the principal current problems and trends of reform. Finally, I will reflect on the intellectual and socio-political background of such reforms, problems, and trends. This approach will also give us the opportunity to discuss what kind of scholarship in the field of civil procedure is demanded today, at least in Europe but probably elsewhere as well, in order to meet the changed needs of our time.

An American Lawyer In The Queen's Courts: Impressions Of English Civil Procedure, Benjamin Kaplan

Michigan Law Review

While the words "English Civil Procedure" in the title of this lecture might suggest that there is a single English system, there are in fact a number of them. In the High Court itself, the court of general jurisdiction, a suit in Chancery Division proceeds differently from an action in Queen's Bench Division: the English have made less of a fetish of the "one form of action" than we have. Procedure in the County Courts, the courts for small-debt collection and miscellaneous claims, contrasts with those of the High Court. But Queen's Bench procedure for the staple cases of some …

Devising Procedures That Are Civil To Promote Justice That Is Civilized, Maurice Rosenberg

Michigan Law Review

In a democracy, process is king to a very large extent, and this is especially so in the judicial branch. Even though substantive laws command attention, procedural rules ensure respect. Why is this true? One powerful reason is that when people end up in court, their case typically is not a matter of right against wrong, but of right against right. Decent process makes the painful task of deciding which party will prevail bearable and helps make the decision itself acceptable.

To put my position plainly, I believe that the road to court-made justice is paved with good procedures. Later …

Wright & Miller: Federal Practice And Procedure, Civil Procedure, William H. Becker, W. Brown Morton Jr.

Michigan Law Review

A Review of Federal Practice and Procedure, Civil Procedure Vol. 4 & 5 by Charles Alan Wright and Arthur R. Miller

Recent Decisions

University of Richmond Law Review

This is a summary of the case law that was decided in 1970.

The Consumer Class Action, Arthur H. Travers Jr., Jonathan M. Landers

Publications

No abstract provided.

Observations On The Manual For Complex And Multidistrict Litigation, Michigan Law Review

Michigan Law Review

In recent years there has been increased pressure on the federal judicial system for improved efficiency in dealing with "the big case." Such cases typically involve either large numbers of plaintiffs, suing in many district courts on essentially the same facts, or many complex and interrelated issues which require the evaluation of large quantities of data. Because those cases require considerable amounts of judicial time which cannot lightly be spared from dealing with the mounting backlog of cases faced by virtually all courts, and because a great deal of potentially protracted litigation is certain to arise in the future, it …

An Examination Of The Federal Rules Of Appellate Procedure, Harvey L. Zuckman

Scholarly Articles

My plan here is to note first major changes in appellate procedure wrought by the new federal rules generally and then to comment in some detail upon what I consider to be the most important rules. Where appropriate, I shall note changes in procedure in the individual circuits, particularly the Seventh, Eighth and Tenth Circuits.

Federal Removal And Injunction To Protect Political Expression And Racial Equality: A Proposed Change, Christopher B. Mueller

Publications

No abstract provided.

Federal Courts--Effect Of New Federal Civil Procedure Rule 23 Of Aggregation Of Claims, Linda L. Hupp

West Virginia Law Review

No abstract provided.

Class Actions Under New Rule 23 And Federal Statutes Of Limitation: A Study Of Conflicting Rationale, Barney B. Welsh

Villanova Law Review (1956 - )

No abstract provided.

Federal Rule 44.1 And The "Fact" Approach To Determining Foreign Law: Death Knell For A Die-Hard Doctrine, Arthur R. Miller

Michigan Law Review

The objective of this article is to analyze Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 44.1, which was developed as part of the reforms of the last decade and became effective on July 1, 1966 and to assess its capacity to rationalize the process of determining foreign law in the federal courts. What follows is an excursion through the past doctrine and into the probable future treatment of foreign law in the federal courts, an exploration of the interrelationship between the new Rule and other phases of federal civil procedure, and an analysis of the prospect that the Rule's effectiveness may be …

Contempt-Injunctions-Federal Civil Contempt Decree Orders Deputy Sheriff To Resign From Office-Lance V. Plummer, Michigan Law Review

Michigan Law Review

During the summer of 1964, a federal district judge issued an injunction prohibiting various St. Augustine, Florida organizations and other persons with notice of the injunction from harassing or intimidating Negroes who were seeking motel or restaurant accommodations. Appellant Lance, an unpaid volunteer deputy sheriff, was not a member of any of the enjoined organizations, but he had actual notice of the order. Nonetheless, six days after the injunction was issued, he engaged in activities designed to intimidate a Negro citizen. In a subsequent civil contempt action arising from these activities, the federal district judge, asserting jurisdiction over him because …

Determination Of Federal Jurisdictional Amount In Suits On Unliquidated Claims, Michigan Law Review

Michigan Law Review

Hoping to keep federal court dockets free of petty claims and thereby to reduce the delay in bringing to trial controversies involving more substantial sums, Congress has given United States district courts jurisdiction of many civil actions arising under the Constitution, laws, or treaties of the United States and most disputes between parties of diverse citizenship only when the alleged right forming the basis of a claimant's cause of action can be valued at more than ten thousand dollars. The value of a particular claim is determined by reference to those portions of its proponent's pleading which tend to support …

Prejudicial Reliance Upon A Trial Court's Ruling May Result In Suspension Of Federal Rules On Timeliness Of Appeals-Thompson V. Immigration & Naturalization Serv.; Wolfsohn V. Hankin, Michigan Law Review

Michigan Law Review

In Thompson v. Immigration & Naturalization Serv., twelve days after the federal district court had entered an order denying a petition for naturalization, petitioner announced his intention of making motions for a new trial and amended findings of fact. Although the motions must be filed within ten days of the entry of judgment, the judge assured petitioner they were made in ample time, and no objection was raised by the Government. Six months later the motions were denied. Within sixty days of this denial, but not within sixty days of the original judgment, petitioner filed a notice of appeal. …

Misconduct Of Judges And Attorneys During Trial: Informal Sanctions, Charles W. Ehrhardt

Scholarly Publications

No abstract provided.

Courts--Prospective Overruling, William Walter Smith

West Virginia Law Review

No abstract provided.

The New Michigan Pre-Trial Procedural Rules-Models For Other States?, Robert Meisenholder

Michigan Law Review

The new Michigan procedural laws are embodied in a revised set of statutes and court rules which became effective January 1, 1963, after a long period of study by a Joint Committee on Michigan Procedural Revision. They abolish an anachronistic distinction between procedures in law and equity, abrogate a scattered, disorganized set of rules and statutes, and create a unified, coherent procedural system.

Federal Jurisdiction-Three-Judge Courts-The Recent Evolution In Jurisdiction And Appellate Review, Peter W. Williamson S.Ed.

Michigan Law Review

This comment seeks to analyze each decision against its historical background. No more than a proforma attempt will be made to integrate one decision with the others, for sufficient material is not yet available to predict with any accuracy the Court's ultimate achievements in this important area of federal civil procedure.

Federal Appellate Jurisdiction-International Extradition-Review Of Extradition Proceedings, Martin R. Fine S.Ed.

Michigan Law Review

The Consul General of Venezuela filed a complaint in a federal district court, pursuant to treaty and statute, seeking the extradition of former President Perez Jimenez for the crimes of murder and embezzlement. While the required extradition hearings were pending, Venezuela sought to use the civil deposition and subpoena procedure8 to compel several New York banks to produce records of deposits and to give depositions concerning the accounts of Jimenez and his alleged confederates. Jimenez moved for a protective order' to prevent Venezuela from obtaining and using these records as evidence against him in the extradition hearings. On appeal from …

The Constitution And Contempt Of Court, Ronald Goldfarb

Michigan Law Review

Few legal devices find conflict within the lines of our Constitution with the ubiquity of the contempt power. These conflicts involve issues concerning the governmental power structure such as the separation of powers and the delicate balancing of federal-state relations. In addition, there are civil rights issues attributable to the conflict between the use of the contempt power and such vital procedural protections as the right to trial by jury, freedom from self-incrimination, double jeopardy, and indictment-to name only the most recurrent and controversial examples. Aside from these problems, there are other civil liberties issues, such as those involving freedom …

Declaratory Judgments-Avoidance Of Peril-Refusal To Adjudicate Rights Of Will Beneficiary Under No-Contest Clause-Testator, Burton L. Raimi S.Ed

Michigan Law Review

Testator, plaintiff's father, acquired property in the joint names of himself and his wife by using money belonging to his wife. At her death testator claimed sole ownership of the property as the survivor. Plaintiff agreed not to probate his mother's will if testator would bequeath the property to his children. Also, testator agreed that if he should remarry he would, by a prenuptial agreement, make it possible to carry out the plan. The agreement was not reduced to writing. Testator remarried and shortly thereafter executed a will in which he disregarded the verbal agreement and left a substantial part …

Congressional Repair Of The Erie Derailment, Leonard V. Quigley

Michigan Law Review

It is the thesis of this article that such legislative review and repair is required today on the part of the federal legislature in regard to the diversity jurisdiction of the federal courts. Such reconsideration is particularly appropriate where, as in the analogous commerce clause area, the subject matter has been committed specifically to the Congress by the Constitution.

Abstracts Of Recent Cases, William Erwin Barr

West Virginia Law Review

No abstract provided.

Instructions--Binding Instruction On Contributory Negligence Need Note State Specific Acts Of Negligence, David Mayer Katz

West Virginia Law Review

No abstract provided.

Attachment And Garnishment In The Federal Courts, Brainerd Currie

Michigan Law Review

Personal injuries allegedly caused by the negligent manufacture of safety fuses used in blasting operations in a coal mine were suffered by Raymond Davis, apparently a citizen of Arkansas. The manufacturer, Ensign-Bickford Company, was a Connecticut corporation that could not be personally served with process within Arkansas. But it happened that two foreign corporations, amenable to process in the state, were indebted in substantial amounts to Ensign-Bickford Company. Accordingly, counsel for Davis, invoking the diversity jurisdiction, filed an action in the District Court for the Western District of Arkansas. Without issue of summons, the plaintiff, in conformity with Arkansas statutes, …

Jury - Pre-Trial Selection - Suggested Improvements, Edward B. Stulberg

Michigan Law Review

Over the course of the past twenty years, the desirability of trial by jury has been a subject of constant debate. In contrast, the matter of jury selection has been given little direct attention. Yet it is obvious that if consideration is given to improvements in selection procedure aimed primarily at raising the calibre of the jury panel, disappointment in the judicial process due to the general ineptness of jurors can be decreased. It is true that the fate of a litigant often is entirely within the discretion of the jury. This is not necessarily a reason for the abandonment …

Book Review. A Pre-Trial Conference, John T. Bauman

Articles by Maurer Faculty

No abstract provided.

Federal Procedure - Trial Practice - Not Reversible Error For Trial Judge To Summon Jury Sua Sponte After Waiver, Thomas A. Dieterich

Michigan Law Review

Plaintiff instituted this action for breach of contract and defendant counterclaimed. Neither party demanded a jury trial during the period in which it was claimable as of right. Subsequently defendant moved for a jury trial. The motion was denied and was never renewed. Seven months later, on the eve of the trial, the court issued an order sua sponte for a jury trial. Plaintiff's objection was overruled. The jury awarded damages to plaintiff in the same amount as the conceded counterclaim. On appeal, held, affirmed, one judge dissenting. Although the trial judge's action in calling a jury on his …