Abstract:
Caseflow Management is a public sector program designed to promote effective
management of cases through the resolution process in the public court system. Given its
public nature caseflow management policy is ultimately an exercise in political will. To
date that political will has been dominated by the legal profession which has influenced
the Ministry of the Attorney General to limit the term~ of reference for caseflow
management and its application to a narrow range of alternatives which are primarily in
the interest of the legal profession. This thesis will explain the nature and extent of the
politics within the legal profession that impact on caseflow management and demonstrate
the potential for better serving the public interest by eXl~anding its terms of reference to
incorporate independent paralegals and public / private sector partnerships in the Ontario
Provincial Court System for highway traffic offences and other matters of a summary
conviction nature.
