[Federal Register Volume 63, Number 47 (Wednesday, March 11, 1998)]
[Notices]
[Page 11872]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 98-6298]


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COMMISSION ON STRUCTURAL ALTERNATIVES FOR THE FEDERAL COURTS OF APPEALS


Public Hearings Notice

AGENCY: Commission on Structural Alternatives for the Federal Courts of 
Appeals.

ACTION: Notice of public hearings.

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SUMMARY: The Commission on Structural Alternatives for the Federal 
Courts of Appeals has scheduled six public hearings to allow interested 
persons to comment on the Commission's work. The hearings will be in 
the following cities. The precise times and locations will be announced 
later.

Atlanta, March 23
Dallas, March 25
Chicago, April 3
New York, April 24
Seattle, May 27
San Francisco, May 29

    Congress created the Commission late last year under Public Law 
105-119, section 305 (28 U.S.C. 41 note) and charged it with studying 
the structure and alignment of the federal appellate system, with 
particular reference to the Ninth Circuit. In December 1998 the 
Commission is to report to the President and Congress any 
recommendations for changes in circuit boundaries or structure, 
consistent with fairness and due process. To assist its work, the 
Commission is interested in obtaining views on whether each federal 
appellate court renders decisions that are reasonably timely, are 
consistent among the litigants appearing before it, are nationally 
uniform in their interpretations of federal law, and are reached 
through processes that afford appeals adequate, deliberative attention 
of judges.
    At the public hearings, the Commission specifically requests that 
witnesses address the following:
    1. What problems or difficulties do you perceive in the federal 
appellate system's structure, organization, alignment, processes, and 
personnel that may interfere with its ability to render decisions that 
meet the above objectives? What criteria or standards can be used to 
answer this question?
    2. What measures should be adopted by Congress or the courts to 
ameliorate or overcome perceived problems in the federal appellate 
system or any of its circuits? What are the advantages or disadvantages 
of any proposed measures?
    3. What is working well in the federal appellate courts?
    Persons may request to testify at any single hearing by mailing or 
faxing a one-page letter to the Commission stating their interest in 
the question identified above, the hearing at which they desire to 
appear, and if applicable, the name of the organization on whose behalf 
they will be appearing. The letter must be received by the Commission 
at least 21 days before the hearing date. Persons who are invited by 
the Commission to testify will be expected to submit a written 
statement of not more than 2,500 words at least five days before the 
hearing.
    In lieu of testifying at a hearing, interested persons may submit a 
statement in writing to the Commission anytime prior to June 1, 1998. 
Statements should be submitted in hard copy, typed, double-spaced, and 
also on a computer diskette in a format readable by a standard word 
processing program.
    Letters and statements should be sent to: Commission on Structural 
Alternatives for the Federal Courts of Appeals, Washington, DC 20544, 
Fax: 202-208-5102.

    Dated: March 3, 1998.
Daniel J. Meador,
Executive Director, Commission on Structural Alternatives for the 
Federal Courts of Appeals.
[FR Doc. 98-6298 Filed 3-10-98; 8:45 am]
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