Reforming Civil Procedure

Simplified Civil Procedure in Japan

Japanese civil procedure covers four types of simplified procedures: ordinary proceedings in summary courts; actions on bills, notes, and checks; actions on small claims; and payment orders. Actions on small claims were newly introduced as civil procedure in 1996 to promote public access to justice. Summary courts have jurisdiction over these actions. The use of actions on small claims once inc...

Reforming civil justice systems: trends in industrial countries

Courts are the backbone of the rule of law, underpinning the institutional arrangements essential for a well-ordered and thriving society. But around the world, resolving disputes over contracts, property, family relations, and other noncriminal matters remains excessively expensive or inordinately protracted—putting courts beyond the reach of most citizens and undermining public confidence in ...

Book Review: Cases on Civil Procedure

Two Valuable Treatises on Civil Procedure

These two works present technically accurate, clearly written, and very illuminating analyses of civil procedure in two leading legal systems, those of England and Germany. Both books no doubt will soon be found in all substantial law school libraries. Both should be found in libraries of law firms whose practice involves more than occasional disputes in European courts. These two studies refle...

The German Advantage in Civil Procedure