IT IS DIRECTLY CONCERNED WITH INFORMATION SYSTEMS WHICH SUPPORT TRIAL COURTS (CASEFLOW MANAGEMENT AS WELL AS OTHER COURT OPERATIONS AND MANAGEMENT) AND ARE OPERATIONAL IN THEIR JURISDICTIONS. THIS REPORT DESCRIBES THE FRAMEWORK STRUCTURE DEVELOPED BY THE PROJECT TEAM FOR ITS USE IN PERFORMING THE JUDGMENTAL ASSESSMENT IN THE AREA OF COURT INFORMATION SYSTEMS. THE FRAMEWORK WAS DEVELOPED BY BUILDING UPON TWO INGREDIENTS: AN ANALYSIS OF THE MAJOR OPERATIONAL PROBLEMS FACED BY THE TRIAL COURTS, AND AN UNDERSTANDING OF THE GENERAL CHARACTERISTICS OF A GENERIC INFORMATION SYSTEM. THE RESULTING ASSESSMENT STRUCTURE CONTAINS ELEMENTS RELATING TO POLICY GOALS FOR COURT OPERATIONS AND TO GENERAL OBJECTIVES FOR COURT INFORMATION SYSTEMS. THE COURT GOALS RELATE TO TIME TO DISPOSITION, PUBLIC IMAGE, QUALITY OF JUSTICE AND COSTS; WHILE THE INFORMATION SYSTEM OBJECTIVES RELATE TO SYSTEM OUTPUTS, DATA HANDLING AND COSTS. THE STRUCTURE ALSO CONTAINS ASSUMPTIONS REGARDING THE ACTIONS NECESSARY TO MEET THE GOALS AND OBJECTIVES, MEASURES OF ACCOMPLISHMENT, AND REQUIREMENTS FOR ORGANIZATION AND MANAGEMENT. THE FRAMEWORK IS DESIGNED TO BE USEFUL FOR SYSTEM PLANNERS AND DESIGNERS AS WELL AS FOR THE JUDGMENTAL ASSESSMENT OF THE COURT INFORMATION SYSTEMS AREA. FOR THE OTHER PARTS OF THIS FIVE-VOLUME REPORT, SEE NCJ-37882-84, AND 86. (AUTHOR ABSTRACT)