The Rationale for Motions in the Design of Adjudication
Forthcoming, American Law and Economics Review
Harvard John M. Olin Center for Law, Economics and Business, Discussion Paper No. 955, May 2018
49 Pages Posted: 12 Jun 2018 Last revised: 7 Nov 2018
There are 2 versions of this paper
The Rationale for Motions in the Design of Adjudication
The Rationale for Motions in the Design of Adjudication
Date Written: May 24, 2018
Abstract
The conduct of adjudication is often influenced by motions––requests made by litigants to modify the course of adjudication. The question studied in this article is why adjudication should be designed so as to permit the use of motions. The answer developed is that litigants will naturally know a great deal about their specific matter, whereas a court will ordinarily know little except to the degree that the court has already invested effort to appreciate it. By giving litigants the right to bring motions, the judicial system leads litigants to efficiently provide information to courts that is relevant to the adjudicative process.
Keywords: Civil Procedure, Motions, Economic Analysis
JEL Classification: D02, D8, K15, K40, K41
Suggested Citation: Suggested Citation
Steven Shavell (Contact Author)
Harvard Law School ( email )
1575 Massachusetts
Hauser 406
Cambridge, MA 02138
United States
617-495-3668 (Phone)
617-496-2256 (Fax)
