NCTJ Court Reporting Practice Exam

What was a key reason behind the invention of the single justice procedure?

1. To expedite all types of trials

2. To enhance public participation

3. To save money and cut costs

4. To improve legal representation

The correct answer is: To save money and cut costs

The invention of the single justice procedure is primarily aimed at saving money and cutting costs within the legal system. This approach allows for certain types of cases—often minor offenses or specific regulatory issues—to be resolved more efficiently by a single judge instead of a full court. By streamlining the decision-making process, it reduces the resources required for multiple judges and court personnel, which in turn lowers overall operational expenses associated with longer court proceedings. This cost-saving measure not only benefits the judicial system by enabling it to process cases more swiftly, but it also helps to alleviate the backlog of cases, ensuring that more serious matters can be given the necessary attention they require without the distraction of lesser offenses consuming valuable court time and resources. As such, the primary rationale focuses on economic efficiency rather than enhancing public participation, expediting all types of trials, or specifically improving legal representation, although some of these aspects may benefit indirectly as a result of the streamlined process.