THE OHIO SUPREME COURT IDENTIFIED THE CAUSES OF COURT DELAYS BY HOLDING PRIVATE CONFERENCES WITH TRIAL JUDGES, MOST OF WHOM WERE AWARE OF THE CAUSES OF DELAYS IN THEIR COURTS. THE COURT IDENTIFIED 10 MAJOR CAUSES OF DELAY AND ADOPTED RULES DESIGNED TO ELIMINATE EACH CAUSE. THE GREATEST CAUSE OF DELAY IN BOTH CRIMINAL CASES AND PERSONAL INJURY CASES PROVED TO BE MOVES BY DEFENSE AND PROSECUTION ATTORNEYS TO DELAY TRIALS. TO ADDRESS THIS PROBLEM, THE COURT PASSD A RULE STATING THAT, IF A LAWYER HAS AGREED TO A TRIAL DATE BUT IS NOT READY TO TRY THE CASE ON THAT DATE, THEN HE OR SHE MUST PROVIDE ANOTHER LAWYER TO TRY THE CASE. THE SECOND GREATEST CAUSE OF DELAY WAS THE UNAVAILABILITY OF PHYSICIANS TO TESTIFY IN PERSONAL INJURY CASES. THE COURT INTRODUCED THE USE OF VIDEOTAPED DEPOSITIONS TO SOLVE THIS PROBLEM. CERTAIN ADMINISTRATIVE RESTRAINTS AND REQUIREMENTS WERE ALSO PLACED ON JUDGES. WHEN THE RULES WENT INTO EFFECT ON JANUARY 1, 1972, THERE WERE OVER 1,800 CRIMINAL CASES IN OHIO THAT WERE MORE THAN 6 MONTHS OLD. AFTER 1 YEAR, THAT BACKLOG HAD BEEN REDUCED TO 705 CASES. OTHER REFORM ACTIVITIES UNDERTAKEN OR PLANNED WITH A VIEW TOWARD IMPROVING THE QUALITY AND EFFICIENCY OF OHIO'S JUDICIAL SYSTEM ARE NOTED. (LKM)