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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 investigation of problems encountered by the Ninth Circuit in its Appeals Without Briefs (AWB) Program, which was designed to expedite the disposition of civil appeals presenting comparatively straightforward issues.