Comparative International Study of Court Performance Indicators: A Descriptive and Analytical Account

Abstract

This report discusses the findings of a quantitative survey of the factors affecting the efficiency of the judiciaries in 10 developing and developed countries on three continents. The report uses a jurimetric analysis to measure how procedural times and clearance rates are affected by a variety of factors, ranging from budget-related variables to the managerial style of the judge. These factors can be grouped into three main categories: procedural, administrative, and organizational. The report explains why enhancing court performance must be a key objective of judicial reform. This is particularly true in a decade in which many countries have experienced a surge in demand for judicial services.

This jurimetric analysis also explains how each factor affecting court efficiency was identified, and how information relating to that factor was gathered and analyzed. It concludes by exploring the results of the analysis addressing how each factor affects procedural time and clearance rates - and the significance of these results for judicial reform programs.

Keywords: judicial reform, legal reform, corruption, litigation, judicial proceedings

JEL Classification: K00, K10, A12, C40, K19