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Better Management Needed in Automating the Federal Judiciary

GGD-81-19 Published: Apr 02, 1981. Publicly Released: Apr 02, 1981.
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Highlights

The Federal Judicial Center is developing and implementing computer-based systems, collectively known as Courtran, to automate various activities of Federal courts. GAO reviewed some of the Center's systems development and transfer practices, the need for increased Center-Administrative Office of the U.S. Courts coordination, and the plans to automate the Federal judiciary.

Recommendations

Recommendations for Executive Action

Agency Affected Recommendation Status
Federal Judicial Center The Directors of the Federal Judicial Center and the Administrative Office of the U.S. Courts should work together to develop and implement a detailed plan to ensure the orderly transfer of automated court systems to the Administrative Office of the U.S. Courts as envisioned by Congress.
Closed
GAO has no information on the actions taken in response to this recommendation.
Administrative Office of the United States Courts The Directors of the Federal Judicial Center and the Administrative Office of the U.S. Courts should work together to develop and implement a detailed plan to ensure the orderly transfer of automated court systems to the Administrative Office of the U.S. Courts as envisioned by Congress.
Closed
GAO has no information on the actions taken in response to this recommendation.
Federal Judicial Center The Directors of the Federal Judicial Center and the Administrative Office of the U.S. Courts should work together to establish an automatic data processing cost accounting system to aid in decisionmaking and in preparing internal and external reports.
Closed
GAO has no information on the actions taken in response to this recommendation.
Administrative Office of the United States Courts The Directors of the Federal Judicial Center and the Administrative Office of the U.S. Courts should work together to establish an automatic data processing cost accounting system to aid in decisionmaking and in preparing internal and external reports.
Closed
GAO has no information on the actions taken in response to this recommendation.
Federal Judicial Center The Directors of the Federal Judicial Center and the Administrative Office of the U.S. Courts should work together to determine whether two fully equipped computer organizations are needed to design, develop, and implement automated systems to support the Federal judiciary.
Closed
GAO has no information on the actions taken in response to this recommendation.
Administrative Office of the United States Courts The Directors of the Federal Judicial Center and the Administrative Office of the U.S. Courts should work together to determine whether two fully equipped computer organizations are needed to design, develop, and implement automated systems to support the Federal judiciary.
Closed
GAO has no information on the actions taken in response to this recommendation.
Federal Judicial Center The Directors of the Federal Judicial Center and the Administrative Office of the U.S. Courts should work together to establish a coordinated planning process and prepare a joint long-range plan which is updated at least annually. The plan should show the judiciary's needs, proposed projects, costs and benefits, priorities, workloads, and equipment and personnel required to support the workload.
Closed
GAO has no information on the actions taken in response to this recommendation.
Administrative Office of the United States Courts The Directors of the Federal Judicial Center and the Administrative Office of the U.S. Courts should work together to establish a coordinated planning process and prepare a joint long-range plan which is updated at least annually. The plan should show the judiciary's needs, proposed projects, costs and benefits, priorities, workloads, and equipment and personnel required to support the workload.
Closed
GAO has no information on the actions taken in response to this recommendation.
Federal Judicial Center The Director of the Federal Judicial Center and the Director of the Administrative Office of the U.S. Courts should jointly inform Congress of the Joint Development Planning Committee's operations and of the progress made toward implementing a long-range planning process, a cost accounting system, and coordinated computer operations.
Closed
GAO has no information on the actions taken in response to this recommendation.
Administrative Office of the United States Courts The Director of the Federal Judicial Center and the Director of the Administrative Office of the U.S. Courts should jointly inform Congress of the Joint Development Planning Committee's operations and of the progress made toward implementing a long-range planning process, a cost accounting system, and coordinated computer operations.
Closed
GAO has no information on the actions taken in response to this recommendation.
Federal Judicial Center The Director of the Federal Judicial Center in concert with the Director of the Administrative Office of the U.S. Courts should establish written processes for the orderly development and implementation of computerized information systems in support of the U.S. Courts.
Closed
GAO has no information on the actions taken in response to this recommendation.
Administrative Office of the United States Courts The Director of the Federal Judicial Center in concert with the Director of the Administrative Office of the U.S. Courts should establish written processes for the orderly development and implementation of computerized information systems in support of the U.S. Courts.
Closed
GAO has no information on the actions taken in response to this recommendation.

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