IT Long Range Plan

Investment Strategy

Over the past decade, the judiciary modernized its network and virtually all of its case management and management information systems. As a result of these investments in information technology, the judiciary will realize various quantitative benefits and cost avoidances for years to come.

The judiciary aligns its IT investments with its business goals and objectives through an inclusive planning process that is synchronized with the judiciary's budget cycle. The Judicial Conference Committee on Information Technology reviews resource requirements and expenditure plans for the judiciary's information technology program in accordance with guidelines and priorities established by the Judicial Conference for the use of available resources.

The Committee has determined that strategic plans and budget requests should reflect the complete set of requirements to preserve and build upon the judiciary's information technology investments. At the same time, the Committee on Information Technology scrutinizes those requirements to ensure that all the judiciary's information technology investments are cost-effective and support its mission.

When considering the costs associated with the IT program, it is especially important to take a broad judiciary-wide view. The judiciary's various case management and administrative support applications have resulted in marked workload efficiencies, allowing the courts to absorb an increased workload without having to add as many support staff as would have been required prior to automation. The cost avoidances will become increasingly important in times of continuing budgetary constraints. The judiciary will rely even more heavily on technology tools and the integration of these tools to enable it to meet its mission in the coming years. As indicated in this annual update to the Long Range Plan for Information Technology, not only will systems in place be maintained and enhanced, but increased emphasis will be placed on developing and acquiring new technologies that will provide additional concrete benefits, particularly to judges as they perform their adjudicative functions.