Only civil and criminal felony trials were studied and extensive data on these trials were collected over a period of one year. These quantitative data were supplemented by field visits to and observations of each court studied as well as interviews with attorneys, judges, and court personnel. In addition, judges and attorneys in each jurisdiction studied were asked to respond to attitudinal surveys regarding the trial process. The primary purpose of the study was to measure, with reliability, the length of civil and criminal trials among general jurisdiction courts within the same State and in different States. Additionally, the study identifies factors contributing to longer trials and promising techniques for shortening trial time without jeopardizing fairness or perceptions of fairness. The study concludes that trial length can be shortened without sacrificing fairness if judges manage each phase of the trial and if continuity in trial days is increased. Appendixes include methodology and data collection forms, civil and criminal trial length data, and a bibliography.
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