TWO HUNDRED THIRTY TRAINED VOLUNTEERS MONITORED BIG-CITY, SMALL-CITY, SUBURBAN AND RURAL COURTROOMS FOR FIVE MONTHS. THEY WATCHED TWENTY-TWO LOWER CRIMINAL COURTS IN FOUR COUNTIES DAILY, OR AS OFTEN AS THEY WERE IN SESSION, FROM FEBRUARY THROUGH JUNE 1975. THEY RECORDED INFORMATION ON MORE THAN 60,000 PROCEEDINGS. THE FINDINGS OFFER CONSIDERABLE INSIGHT INTO THE REASONS FOR THE LOSS OF RESPECT. THEY REVEAL THAT THE JUDGE IS THE KEY TO WHETHER OR NOT THE COURT APPEARS TO BE JUST IN THE EYES OF CITIZENS THROUGH HIS ABILITY TO SET AN ATMOSPHERE IN WHICH JUSTICE APPEARS TO BE DONE. OTHER IMPORTANT REASONS INCLUDE RUNDOWN FACILITIES, CROWDED DOCKETS, ASSEMBLY-LINE PROCEDURES, REPEATED CONTINUANCES, AND RUDE CLERKS AND BAILIFFS.