Many of the problems in Philadelphia courts stem from the tremendous volume of litigants. In Family Court approximately 90% are unrepresented by legal counsel. One of the primary challenges is moving these extremely crucial cases forward and to alleviate the crowded dockets. This is not to say that every litigant should not have his or her "day in court." I believe it would be beneficial for Family Court to examine other methods for pre-screening time-sensitive cases, such as custody cases, so that these cases can be listed as soon as practicable. In addition, I suggest that the Court create a "waiting pool" of ready cases that could be scheduled within 48 hours so that if time slots open up, the case could be listed on a "short list" for a hearing before a judge.
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