EDCM and DCM are strategies that rationalize the court's case processing system by classifying cases according to their expected demand on the docket. They are based on the assumption that not all cases need to follow the same court processing sequence from arraignment to disposition and sentencing. Goals of EDCM and DCM programs are to help courts relieve their congested criminal and civil dockets, to use existing resources more efficiently and effectively, and to assist the courts in satisfying the constitutional requirement of a speedy trial without sacrificing the needs of nondrug cases to the demands of rising drug case filings. Although the structure and operation of the programs differ, each relies on a fundamental set of case management principles: early screening and classification of cases; assignment of each case to a track; establishment of applicable timeframes; and continuous monitoring of each case. Descriptions of EDCM programs in Philadelphia; Middlesex County, New Jersey; and Marion County, Indiana, are provided. Cost implications of the program are briefly examined. 5 references, 2 tables, and 3 figures