On this episode, host Paul W. Grimm speaks with Judges Carolyn B. Kuhl and William F. Highberger of the Superior Court of California about the challenges of managing increasingly complex civil caseloads in state and federal courts. The judges introduce their concept of a “Unified Theory of Case Management,” which aims to streamline court procedures through a set of core, case-neutral goals, strategies, and toolkits. Their discussion emphasizes the importance of efficient, fair, and cost-effective resolution of cases, aiming to ensure the judicial process is perceived as fair by all parties involved.

ADDITIONAL RESOURCES:

• Toward Fairer, Quicker, Cheaper Litigation: A Unified Theory of Civil Case Management (Judicature)
• Civil Justice Initiative Implementation Tools (National Center for State Courts)
• Why Don’t Judges Case Manage? (University of Miami Law Review)

ABOUT THE HOST

Judge Paul W. Grimm (ret.) is the David F. Levi Professor of the Practice of Law and Director of the Bolch Judicial Institute at Duke Law School. From December 2012 until his retirement in December 2022, he served as a district judge of the United States District Court for the District of Maryland, with chambers in Greenbelt, Maryland. Click here to read his full bio.