GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF NORTH CAROLINA
1995 SESSION
CHAPTER 333
AN ACT TO REQUEST THE SUPREME COURT TO ADOPT A PLAN TO ADMINISTER JUSTICE WITHOUT DELAY IN NORTH CAROLINA TRIAL COURTS.
The General Assembly of North Carolina enacts:
Section 1. The North Carolina Supreme Court is requested to develop and implement a case flow management plan designed to avoid delay and unnecessary appearances and to increase efficiency in the handling of cases in North Carolina's trial courts. The plan should:
(1) Place responsibility for managing the flow of cases on specific persons;
(2) Adopt case processing standards and goals;
(3) Address the problem of delay;
(4) Avoid unnecessary appearances in court by parties, witnesses, and attorneys;
(5) Provide mechanisms for keeping continuous control of cases;
(6) Establish definite deadlines throughout the process;
(7) Include a limited continuance policy;
(8) Consider the interests of victims and witnesses;
(9) Set out accountability mechanisms; and
(10) Provide for training of those persons responsible for managing the case flow.
Sec. 2. The Supreme Court is requested to make a report detailing the case flow management plan to the 1995 General Assembly, Regular Session 1996, by May 1, 1996. The report should include the recommended standards and goals; a report of the plan to implement those standards and goals; a timetable for implementation; persons responsible for managing the flow of cases and how they will be held accountable; how the plan is going to be evaluated; what training is necessary; and recommended legislation to facilitate implementation.
Sec. 3. This act is effective upon ratification.
In the General Assembly read three times and ratified this the 27th day of June, 1995.
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Dennis A. Wicker
President of the Senate
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Harold J. Brubaker
Speaker of the House of Representatives