What are the different types of case assignment systems?
Individual case assignment systems or calendars assign cases filed to individual judges. Each judge is then responsible for all parts of the case assigned, including motions, pretrial conferences, and dispositions. The strengths of such a system include: • Autonomy and responsibility • Accountability • Competition • Motions practice • Continuity and familiarity • Elimination of judge shopping However, it is difficult to have a pure individual-calendaring system because some cases or judges will always be faster than others.Under a master calendar, the master calendar judge is responsible for pretrials, arraignments, motions, and continuances. Other judges are responsible for dispositions. The strengths of this type of calendar include: • Efficient use of time • Trial date certainty • Uniform disposition rates • Central control over cases • Team spirit • Specialization • Pretrial continuity on a courtwide basis • Less expense However, it can be difficult for the master calendar judge to
