GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF NORTH CAROLINA

1995 SESSION

 

 

CHAPTER 333

HOUSE BILL 231

 

AN ACT TO REQUEST THE SUPREME COURT TO ADOPT A PLAN TO ADMINISTER JUSTICE WITHOUT DELAY IN NORTH CAROLINA TRIAL COURTS.

 

The General Assembly of North Carolina enacts:

 

Section 1.  The North Carolina Supreme Court is requested to develop and implement a case flow management plan designed to avoid delay and unnecessary appearances and to increase efficiency in the handling of cases in North Carolina's trial courts.  The plan should:

(1)       Place responsibility for managing the flow of cases on specific persons;

(2)       Adopt case processing standards and goals;

(3)       Address the problem of delay;

(4)       Avoid unnecessary appearances in court by parties, witnesses, and attorneys;

(5)       Provide mechanisms for keeping continuous control of cases;

(6)       Establish definite deadlines throughout the process;

(7)       Include a limited continuance policy;

(8)       Consider the interests of victims and witnesses;

(9)       Set out accountability mechanisms; and

(10)     Provide for training of those persons responsible for managing the case flow.

Sec. 2.  The Supreme Court is requested to make a report detailing the case flow management plan to the 1995 General Assembly, Regular Session 1996, by May 1, 1996.  The report should include the recommended standards and goals; a report of the plan to implement those standards and goals; a timetable for implementation; persons responsible for managing the flow of cases and how they will be held accountable; how the plan is going to be evaluated; what training is necessary; and recommended legislation to facilitate implementation.

Sec. 3.  This act is effective upon ratification.

In the General Assembly read three times and ratified this the 27th day of June, 1995.

 

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Dennis A. Wicker

President of the Senate

 

 

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Harold J. Brubaker

Speaker of the House of Representatives