Research on the local impacts of Federal Civil Rule 16(b)

An examination of the local rules federal district courts have developed in response to the 1983 amendment to Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 16, which calls for increased use of scheduling orders in managing caseloads. An appendix contains sample local rules from fifteen districts.

A description of some of the orientation methods that have been used by various district courts to introduce new judges to judicial tasks and local court practice. An appendix includes an orientation checklist developed by the Center.

An examination of court-annexed arbitration as an alternative method of dispute resolution. The article describes in detail how an effective court arbitration program works and the goals the program is designed to achieve.