PLATFORM : Unclogging Courts

We could tackle this problem by having state agencies resolve more legal disputes.

We can’t handle all our disputes in court. The courts are just not equipped to handle many kinds of cases.

State agencies each year make thousands of decisions on matters such as licensing and regulation, and there are very few complaints because the state of California has very good administrative procedure law.

We already rely on regulatory agencies, such as the state Public Utilities Commission, to adjudicate technical and commercial disputes.

There’s no reason good state agencies can’t take on more responsibility in the area of legal disputes. We can ensure that agencies provide fair adjudication by monitoring their procedures.

The Legislature should review the scene and determine what kinds of disputes can be adjudicated by administrative agencies more efficiently than by our clogged courts.