28 U.S.C. § 479 — Information on litigation management and

Page 167 TITLE 28—JUDICIARY AND JUDICIAL PROCEDURE § 481 (Added Pub. L. 101–650, title I, § 103(a), Dec. 1, 1990, 104 Stat. 5094.) Editorial Notes REFERENCES IN TEXT Section 103(c) of the Civil Justice Reform Act of 1990 [Pub. L. 101–650], referred to in subsec. (a)(1), is set out as a note under section 471 of this title. § 478. Advisory groups (a) Within ninety days after the date of the en- actment of this chapter, the advisory group re- quired in each United States district court in accordance with section 472 of this title shall be appointed by the chief judge of each district court, after consultation with the other judges of such court. (b) The advisory group of a district court shall be balanced and include attorneys and other per- sons who are representative of major categories of litigants in such court, as determined by the chief judge of such court. (c) Subject to subsection (d), in no event shall any member of the advisory group serve longer than four years. (d) Notwithstanding subsection (c), the United States Attorney for a judicial district, or his or her designee, shall be a permanent member of the advisory group for that district court. (e) The chief judge of a United States district court may designate a reporter for each advi- sory group, who may be compensated in accord- ance with guidelines established by the Judicial Conference of the United States. (f) The members of an advisory group of a United States district court and any person des- ignated as a reporter for such group shall be considered as independent contractors of such court when in the performance of official duties of the advisory group and may not, solely by reason of service on or for the advisory group, be prohibited from practicing law before such court. (Added Pub. L. 101–650, title I, § 103(a), Dec. 1, 1990, 104 Stat. 5094.) Editorial Notes REFERENCES IN TEXT The date of the enactment of this chapter, referred to in subsec. (a), is the date of enactment of Pub. L. 101–650, which was approved Dec. 1, 1990. § 479. Information on litigation management and cost and delay reduction (a) Within four years after the date of the en- actment of this chapter, the Judicial Conference of the United States shall prepare a comprehen- sive report on all plans received pursuant to sec- tion 472(d) of this title. The Director of the Fed- eral Judicial Center and the Director of the Ad- ministrative Office of the United States Courts may make recommendations regarding such re- port to the Judicial Conference during the prep- aration of the report. The Judicial Conference shall transmit copies of the report to the United States district courts and to the Committees on the Judiciary of the Senate and the House of Representatives. (b) The Judicial Conference of the United States shall, on a continuing basis— (1) study ways to improve litigation manage- ment and dispute resolution services in the district courts; and (2) make recommendations to the district courts on ways to improve such services. (c)(1) The Judicial Conference of the United States shall prepare, periodically revise, and transmit to the United States district courts a Manual for Litigation Management and Cost and Delay Reduction. The Director of the Fed- eral Judicial Center and the Director of the Ad- ministrative Office of the United States Courts may make recommendations regarding the prep- aration of and any subsequent revisions to the Manual. (2) The Manual shall be developed after careful evaluation of the plans implemented under sec- tion 472 of this title, the demonstration program conducted under section 104 of the Civil Justice Reform Act of 1990, and the pilot program con- ducted under section 105 of the Civil Justice Re- form Act of 1990. (3) The Manual shall contain a description and analysis of the litigation management, cost and delay reduction principles and techniques, and alternative dispute resolution programs consid- ered most effective by the Judicial Conference, the Director of the Federal Judicial Center, and the Director of the Administrative Office of the United States Courts. (Added Pub. L. 101–650, title I, § 103(a), Dec. 1, 1990, 104 Stat. 5095.) Editorial Notes REFERENCES IN TEXT The date of the enactment of this chapter, referred to in subsec. (a), is the date of enactment of Pub. L. 101–650, which was approved Dec. 1, 1990. Sections 104 and 105 of the Civil Justice Reform Act of 1990 [Pub. L. 101–650], referred to in subsec. (c)(2), are set out as notes under section 471 of this title. § 480. Training programs The Director of the Federal Judicial Center and the Director of the Administrative Office of the United States Courts shall develop and con- duct comprehensive education and training pro- grams to ensure that all judicial officers, clerks of court, courtroom deputies, and other appro- priate court personnel are thoroughly familiar with the most recent available information and analyses about litigation management and other techniques for reducing cost and expediting the resolution of civil litigation. The curriculum of such training programs shall be periodically re- vised to reflect such information and analyses. (Added Pub. L. 101–650, title I, § 103(a), Dec. 1, 1990, 104 Stat. 5095.) § 481. Automated case information (a) The Director of the Administrative Office of the United States Courts shall ensure that each United States district court has the auto- mated capability readily to retrieve information about the status of each case in such court. (b)(1) In carrying out subsection (a), the Direc- tor shall prescribe— (A) the information to be recorded in dis- trict court automated systems; and