[Federal Register Volume 70, Number 125 (Thursday, June 30, 2005)]
[Notices]
[Page 37871]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 05-12913]


-----------------------------------------------------------------------

DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE

Office of Justice Programs


Agency Information Collection Activities: Proposed Collection; 
Comments Requested

ACTION: 30-day notice of information collection under review: Civil 
Justice Survey of State Courts, 2005.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

    The Department of Justice (DOJ), Office of Justice Programs (OJP) 
has submitted the following information collection request to the 
Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for review and approval in 
accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995. The proposed 
information collection is published to obtain comments from the public 
and affected agencies. This proposed information collection was 
previously published in the Federal Register Volume 70, Number 70, page 
19503 on April 13, 2005, allowing for a 60-day comment period.
    The purpose of this notice is to allow for an additional 30 days 
for public comment until August 1, 2005. This process is conducted in 
accordance with 5 CFR 1320.10.
    Written comments and/or suggestions regarding the items contained 
in this notice, especially the estimated public burden and associated 
response time, should be directed to the Office of Management and 
Budget, Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs, Attention 
Department of Justice Desk Officer, Washington, DC 20503. Additionally, 
comments may be submitted to OMB via facsimile to (202) 395-5806. 
Written comments and suggestions from the public and affected agencies 
concerning the proposed collection of information are encouraged. Your 
comments should address one or more of the following four points:

--Evaluate whether the proposed collection of information is necessary 
for the proper performance of the functions of the agency, including 
whether the information will have practical utility;
--Evaluate the accuracy of the agencies estimate of the burden of the 
proposed collection of information, including the validity of the 
methodology and assumptions used;
--Enhance the quality, utility, and clarity of the information to be 
collected; and
--Minimize the burden of the collection of information on those who are 
to respond, including through the use of appropriate automated, 
electronic, mechanical, or other technological collection techniques or 
other forms of information technology, e.g., permitting electronic 
submission of responses.

Overview of This Information Collection

    (1) Type of Information Collection: Existing Collection In Use 
Without an OMB Control Number.
    (2) Title of the Form/Collection: Civil Justice Survey of State 
Courts, 2005.
    (3) Agency form number, if any, and the applicable component of the 
Department sponsoring the collection: Form Number: CJSC. Bureau of 
Justice Statistics, Office of Justice Programs.
    (4) Affected public who will be asked or required to respond, as 
well as a brief abstract: Primary: State, local or tribal governments. 
The Civil Justice Survey of State courts, 2005. (CJSC 05) is the only 
collection effort that provides basic information on civil cases 
adjudicated in state trial courts in a sample of the Nation's 75 most 
populous counties. Information collected includes the types of claims 
brought by litigants in civil disputes, plaintiff win rates, 
compensatory and punitive damage awards, case processing time, and post 
verdict activity. The CJSC 05 provides policymakers, researchers, and 
lawyers with an opportunity to examine how civil lawsuits are processed 
in state courts.
    (5) An estimate of the total number of respondents and the amount 
of time estimated for an average respondent to respond/reply: It is 
estimated that information will be collected on a total of 30,000 civil 
cases from 46 responding counties. Annual cost to the respondents is 
based on the number of hours involved in providing information from 
court records for the jury trial, bench trial, and non-trial data 
collection forms. Public reporting burden for this collection of 
information is estimated to average 30 minutes per data collection 
form. The estimate of hour burden is based on prior CJSC surveys.
    (6) An estimate of the total public burden (in hours) associated 
with the collection: The estimated public burden associated with this 
collection is 15,000 hours.
    If additional information is required contact: Brenda E. Dyer, 
Department Clearance Officer, United States Department of Justice, 
Justice Management Division, Policy and Planning Staff, Patrick Henry 
Building, Suite 1600, 601 D Street, NW., Washington, DC 20530.

    Dated: June 27, 2005.
Brenda E. Dyer,
Department Clearance Officer, Department of Justice.
[FR Doc. 05-12913 Filed 6-29-05; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4410-18-P