Courts Commons^™

The Timing Of Opinion Formation By Jurors In Civil Cases: An Empirical Examination, Paula Hannaford-Agor, Valerie P. Hans, Nicole L. Mott, G. Thomas Munsterman

Faculty Publications

Although researchers have thoroughly examined juror decision making in laboratory experiments, the point at which jurors form opinions in actual jury trials remains cloaked in mystery. Recently, however, that cloak was lifted enough to provide a glimpse at the timing of juror opinion formation. The opportunity to do so came in conjunction with an evaluation of a jury reform procedure implemented in Arizona civil trials in 1995. Data collected for the evaluation included the responses of 1,385 jurors from 172 civil trials concerning when they began to form opinions about the case, whether and when they changed their minds about …

Reanimator: Mark Tushnet And The Second Coming Of The Imperial Presidency, Neal Devins

Faculty Publications

No abstract provided.

Courtroom Technology, A Judicial Primer, Fredric I. Lederer

Faculty Publications

No abstract provided.

Constitutional Law -- Due Process Clause -- Third Circuit Holds That $50 Million Punitive Damages Award In Context Of A $48 Million Compensatory Award Is Unconstitutionally Excessive -- Inter Medical Supplies, Ltd. V. Ebi Medical Systems, Inc., 181 F.3d 446 (3d Cir. 1999)., A. Benjamin Spencer

Faculty Publications

In 1996, the Supreme Court, in BMW of North America, Inc. v. Gore, struck down a punitive damages award on the ground that it was "grossly excessive" in violation of the Due Process Clause of the Fourteenth Amendment . Since BMW, many courts have faced the challenge of applying its principles to determine whether punitive damages awards surpass the constitutional limit. Last June, in Inter Medical Supplies, Ltd. v. EBI Medical Systems, Inc., the Third Circuit faced this difficulty when it considered whether a $50 million punitive damages award, granted in conjunction with a $48 million compensatory damages award, was …

Courtroom Technology In The 21st Century, Fredric I. Lederer

Popular Media

No abstract provided.

The Democracy-Forcing Constitution, Neal Devins

Faculty Publications

No abstract provided.

The Road To The Virtual Courtroom? A Consideration Of Today’S -- And Tomorrow’S -- High Technology Courtrooms, Fredric I. Lederer

Faculty Publications

No abstract provided.

How Much Justice Hangs In The Balance? A New Look At Hung Jury Rates, Paula Hannaford-Agor, Valerie P. Hans, G. Thomas Munsterman

Faculty Publications

This article discusses what is currently known about hung juries based on exist­ing empirical research and examines some preliminary data about the contempo­rary incidence of hung juries in the federal courts and several state courts. The paucity of information on hung jury rates highlights the need for a rigor­ous and system-wide examination that extends beyond the scope of the jury itself and encompasses the insti­tutional characteristics of each juris­diction and how those characteristics affect the types of cases that are pre­sented to juries.

This abstract has been taken from the authors' introduction.

Creating The 'Portable' Guardianship: Legal And Practical Implications Of Probate Court Cooperation In Interstate Guardianship Cases, Charlene D. Daniel, Paula Hannaford-Agor

Faculty Publications

In this article, we discuss the legal and practical issues associ­ated with interstate guardianships--that is, those guardianships in which the ward has ties to more than one state. Part I addresses these issues in the context of jurisdictional questions, securing nec­essary information, judicial monitoring and enforcement of guardi­anship orders, and property management. Part II proposes some modest solutions to these problems, many borrowed from other ar­eas of law (e.g., child support enforcement, child custody determinations, enforcement of civil protection orders, involuntary civil commitment).

This abstract has been taken from the authors' introduction.

The Arizona Jury Reform Permitting Civil Jury Trial Discussions: The Views Of Trial Participants, Judges, And Jurors, Valerie P. Hans, Paula Hannaford-Agor, G. Thomas Munsterman

Faculty Publications

In 1995, the Arizona Supreme Court reformed the jury trial process by allowing civil jurors to discuss the evidence presented during trial prior to their formal deliberations. This Article examines and evaluates the theoretical, legal, and policy issues raised by this reform and presents the early results of a field experiment that tested the impact of trial discussions. Jurors, judges, attorneys, and litigants in civil jury trials in Arizona were questioned regarding their observations, experi­ences, and reactions during trial as well as what they perceived to be the benefits and drawbacks of juror discussions. The data revealed that the majority …

Some Thoughts On The Evidentiary Aspects Of Technologically Produced Or Presented Evidence, Fredric I. Lederer

Faculty Publications

No abstract provided.

Court Interpreting Services In State And Federal Courts: Reasons And Options For Inter-Court Coordination, William E. Hewitt, Paula Hannaford-Agor, Catherine Gill, Melissa Cantrell

Faculty Publications

In 1978 a federal law marked the beginning of standard setting and professionalization of court interpreters through testing. In 1995, an entity now called the Consortium for State Court Interpreter Certification was created by the National Center for State Courts and four founding states (Minnesota, New Jersey, Oregon, and Washington.) The Consortium was created as a way to ameliorate shortages of resources and expertise to implement standards for interpreting proficiency at the state level, problems shared by virtually all of the states. Now, as a consequence of institutionalization, a forum has been created wherein exchange of information and expertise, and …

Judicial Exclusivity And Political Instability, Neal Devins, Louis Fisher

Faculty Publications

No abstract provided.

How Judges View Civil Juries, Paula Hannaford-Agor, B. Michael Dann, G. Thomas Munsterman

Faculty Publications

In any given case, the judge's view of the jury may mani­fest itself as a complex and subtle mixture of respect, gratitude, con­cern, pride, impatience, and even frustration. But more revealing than what judges say about juries is what judges do to prepare jurors for their roles in civil cases. This paper explores the various indicators of judges' views of the civil jury, including the social and institutional factors and contemporary jury reform efforts that affect judges' views about the civil jury.

This abstract has been taken from the authors' introduction.

The Last Word Debate: How Social And Political Forces Shape Constitutional Values, Neal Devins

Popular Media

No abstract provided.

Reshaping The Bedrock Of Democracy: American Jury Reform During The Past 30 Years, G. Thomas Munsterman, Paula Hannaford-Agor

Faculty Publications

In this article, we explore three broad areas of jury reform--administrative, structural, and procedural--as well as the problems they were intended to address and the consequences, both good and bad, that resulted from their implementation.

This abstract has been taken from the author's introduction.

The Courtroom As A Stop On The Information Superhighway, Fredric I. Lederer

Popular Media

No abstract provided.

Book Review Of Ready Reference: American Justice, James S. Heller

Library Staff Publications

No abstract provided.

Book Review Of The Sourcebook Of Federal Courts, U.S. District And Bankruptcy, James S. Heller

Library Staff Publications

No abstract provided.

Lawyering In A Hybrid Adversary System, John S. Dzienkowski

William & Mary Law Review

No abstract provided.

The Trouble With Postmodern Zeal, Monroe H. Freedman

William & Mary Law Review

No abstract provided.

Technology Augmented Litigation--Systemic Revolution, Fredric I. Lederer

Faculty Publications

This article reviews key aspects of high technology litigation, including technology augmented court records, two-way video arraignment and testimony, and technology based evidence display, and posits some of the critical jurisprudential and pragmatic issues posed by the use of such technologies

The Evolution Of American Probate Courts And Emerging Standards To Guide Their Progress, Thomas L. Hafemeister, Paula Hannaford-Agor

Faculty Publications

Courts with probate jurisdiction are an excellent example of the evolu­tion of American courts. Despite the fact that they are direct descendants of the English judicial system, the structure, jurisdiction, and procedures of the probate courts assumed a uniquely American flavor soon after their initial establishment in the colonies. From the beginning, American probate courts have shown considerable diversity from state to state. State courts exercising probate jurisdiction have continued to evolve over time in response to the various demands placed upon them. This article describes the historical evolution of American courts exer­cising jurisdiction over probate matters, with specific attention …

Revolution In Courtroom Technology Presents Opportunity And Risk, Fredric I. Lederer

Popular Media

No abstract provided.

The National Probate Court Standards: The Role Of The Courts In Guardianship And Conservatorship Proceedings, Paula Hannaford-Agor, Thomas L. Hafemeister

Faculty Publications

In this article, Ms. Hannaford and Professor Hafemeister confront the issue of who will ensure that the needs of the growing elderly population are met. The authors provide a history and overview of guardianship proceedings and also provide, for the first time, a quantitative description of guardianship usage in the United States. The authors assert that guardianships and conservatorships remain effective ways to pro­tect the rights of the incompetent elderly person. Although these remedies create a legal right in the guardian to manage the financial and medical welfare of the elderly client, the authors argue that a lack of procedural …

Unitariness And Independence: Solicitor General Control Over Independent Agency Litigation, Neal Devins

Faculty Publications

With a few exceptions, the Solicitor General controls all aspects of independent agency litigation before the Supreme Court. Solicitor General control of Supreme Court litigation creates a tension between independent agency freedom and the Solicitor General's authority. On the one hand, Solicitor General control provides the United States with a unitary voice before the Supreme Court, and provides the Court with a trustworthy litigator to explicate the government's position. On the other hand, such control may undermine the autonomy of independent agency decision making. In this Article, the author argues for a hybrid model of independent agency litigation in the …

How To Try A Tax Court Case, James S. Halpren, Charles W. Hall

William & Mary Annual Tax Conference

No abstract provided.

Uniformity In The Federal Courts: A Proposal For Increasing The Use Of En Banc Appellate Review, Michael Ashley Stein

Faculty Publications

No abstract provided.

Book Review Of The National Directory Of Courts Of Law 1991, James S. Heller

Library Staff Publications

No abstract provided.

Book Review Of How To Research The Supreme Court, James S. Heller

Library Staff Publications

No abstract provided.