THE STUDY EXAMINES THREE VARIABLES CRITICAL TO THE EVALUATION OF POTENTIAL REFORM SUCCESS; (1) THE INDIVIDUALS RESPONSIBLE FOR ADMINISTERING THE COURTS, (2) THE TRADITIONAL MANAGEMENT PRACTICES UTILIZED BY THESE PERSONNEL, AND (3) THE POLICTICAL AND INSTITUTIONAL CONTEXT IN WHICH THEIR DUTIES ARE CARRIED OUT. THE DEGREE OF ACCEPTANCE OF REFORM IS VIEWED AS RELATED TO THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN THE 'NATURAL' AND 'ARTIFICIAL' SYSTEMS, THE LEVEL AND COMPLEXITY OF TECHNOLOGY EMPLOYED BY COURT ORGANIZATIONS, THE NUMBER AND TYPES OF ORGANIZATIONAL GOALS, THE NATURE OF THE COURT SYSTEM'S ENVIRONMENT, AND THE NATURE OF THE VALUES, ROLES, AND INDIVIDUAL GOALS EXHIBITED BY ORGANIZATIONAL MEMBERS. THE TRIAL COURT SYSTEM IN FLORIDA IS EXAMINED AFTER A 1972 CONSTITUTIONAL REVISION REPUTEDLY TRANSFORMED THE COURTS INTO A CONSOLIDATED SYSTEM WITH CLEARLY DEFINED ADMINISTRATIVE AND JURISDICTIONAL AUTHORITY. THE ROLES AND ATTITUDES OF CHIEF JUDGES, COURT CLERKS, AND COURT ADMINISTRATORS ARE EXAMINED UTILIZING PARTICIPANT OBSERVATIONS, INTERVIEWS, AND QUESTIONNAIRES. IT WAS FOUND THAT RESISTANCE FROM THE COURT MANAGERS SEVERELY INHIBITED REFORM AND THAT CHIEF JUDGES HAVE DEFAULTED IN THEIR ADMINISTRATIVE RESPONSIBILITIES AND HAVE PERPETRATED THE DIFFUSION OF AUTHORITY AND COURT MANAGEMENT PRESENT IN THE PREVIOUS ADMINISTRATIVE SYSTEM. UNPROFESSIONAL COURT CLERKS HAVE CAUSED INCONSISTENCY IN PROCEDURES, FORMS AND APPLICATIONS OF TECHNOLOGY. THE OUTSTANDING FACTOR CONTRIBUTING TO THE JUDGES' RELUCTANCE TO ADMINISTER IS THEIR INABILITY TO CONTROL JUDICIAL PERSONNEL AND BUDGETS. STATE ASSUMPTION OF ALL JUDICIAL FISCAL AND PERSONNEL RESPONSIBILITIES IS RECOMMENDED FOR EFFECTIVE REFORM OF COURT SYSTEMS. THE DATA, HOWEVER, SUGGEST THAT THE COURT MANAGERS' SUPPORT OF THIS PROPOSAL IS MINIMAL. THE SURVEY INSTRUMENTS, DESCRIPTIONS OF COURT ADMINISTRATORS' DUTIES, AND COURT-EXPENSE BREAKDOWNS ARE PROVIDED AS WELL AS SELECTED BIBLIOGRAPHICAL REFERENCES. (AUTHOR ABSTRACT MODIFIED--DAG)