Improving the Federal Judiciary

In this second edition of a book first published in September 2017, Judge Posner explains the measures his company has taken to improve the representation of pro se litigants throughout the nation. He focuses on the problems of the pro ses, the people, often prisoners, who bring lawsuits without a lawyer and the staff attorneys who review these lawsuits and make recommendations to the judges on how to decide the cases. He has done extensive research into the procedures of all thirteen circuits and compares their performance. This is the most extensive comparative review of the staff attorney programs in the circuit courts that has ever been done. Judge Posner has many suggestions for improving the way these cases are handled. In addition, he discusses the need for televising the circuit court hearings. He is a believer in government transparency, and feels the public should have easy access to the workings of the courts. Finally, Judge Posner reviews the duties of the circuit chief judge and recommends clarification of the position.