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The Federal Courts : Challenge and Reform
The Federal Courts Challenge and Reform Author:Richard A. Posner The federal courts are the world's most powerful judiciary and a vital element of the American political system. In recent decades, these courts have experienced unprecedented growth in caseload and personnel. Many judges and lawyers believe that a "crisis in quantity" is imperiling the ability of the federal judiciary to perform its historic fu... more »nction of administering justice fairly and expeditiously. Drawing on economic and political theory as well as on legal analysis and his own extensive judicial experience, Judge Richard Posner sketches the history of the federal courts, describes the contemporary institution, appraises the concerns that have been expressed with the courts' performance, and presents a variety of proposals for both short-term and fundamental reform. In contrast to some of the direr prophecies of observers of the federal courts, Posner emphasizes the success of these courts in adapting to steep caseload growth with minimal sacrifice in quality.« less