THE PRINCIPAL RECOMMENDATION IS THAT THE RECORDKEEPING SYSTEMS USED IN THE CLERK'S OFFICE BE MODIFIED AND REDUCED TO A UNITARY RECORDKEEPING SYSTEM CONTAINING THREE BASIC ELEMENTS: THE MASTER INDEX; THE MASTER CASE RECORD OR DOCKET; AND THE STATUS CARD. SPECIFIC SUGGESTIONS FOR MODIFYING EXISTING MASTER FILE AND DOCKET FORMS AND PROCEDURES ARE OFFERED. THE STATUS CARD FILE, WHICH PROVIDES THE CLERK WITH ACCESS TO ALL APPEALS AT A PARTICULAR STAGE FOR INSTANTANEOUS MONITORING OR STATISTICAL PURPOSES, IS DESCRIBED AT LENGTH. THE STATUS CARD IS ALSO DESIGNED TO ACCOMMODATE CONFIDENTIAL INHOUSE ENTRIES THAT SHOULD NOT APPEAR ON THE OFFICIAL DOCKET SHEET. OTHER RECOMMENDATIONS RELATE TO FILING AND STORAGE, THE MINUTE BOOK, THE ORAL ARGUMENT CALENDAR, THE OPINION PROCESS, MANDATES, MOTION PRACTICE, MAIL PROCESSING, WORKFLOW, THE OFFICE PROCEDURE MANUAL, AND THE TRAFFIC MANAGER CONCEPT. UNDER THE TRAFFIC MANAGER CONCEPT, THE CLERK'S ROLE IS EXPANDED TO ENCOMPASS THE SCREENING OF APPEALS BY THEIR NATURE. THROUGH PROPER USE OF A MASTER INDEX SYSTEM, THE CLERK CAN IDENTIFY COMPANION CASES OR CODEFENDANTS IN CRIMINAL PROCEEDINGS AND PREPARE ADMINISTRATIVE ORDERS CONSOLIDATING THESE MATTERS FOR HEARING SO THAT THE COURT WILL NOT WASTE TIME CONSIDERING 'PIECEMEAL' APPEALS. SAMPLE FORMS ARE APPENDED. FOR VOL. 1, SEE NCJ-48796. (LKM)