LEAA'S COURT MANAGEMENT PROJECT WAS LAUNCHED IN 1977 TO PROVIDE TRIAL COURT MANAGERS--BOTH JUDGES AND STAFFS--WITH A MANAGEMENT REPORT SERIES ADDRESSING CRITICAL AREAS OF WORKLOAD AND RESOURCES IN AN EFFORT TO ENHANCE FINANCIAL, PERSONNEL, AND RECORDS MANAGEMENT. THE VOLUME ON PERSONNEL MANAGEMENT IS ORGANIZED IN THREE CHAPTERS TO PROVIDE A FRAMEWORK WITHIN WHICH BOTH BROAD AND SPECIFIC TRIAL COURT PERSONNEL MANAGEMENT ISSUES CAN BE ANALYZED AND HANDLED. THE FIRST DISCUSSES THE SPECIAL FEATURES OF THE TRIAL COURT ENVIRONMENT WHICH BEAR ON THE DEVELOPMENT AND MAINTENANCE OF A PERSONNEL SYSTEM--THE FOCUS OF ADMINISTRATIVE AUTHORITY AND CONTROL, THE INTERNAL ORGANIZATIONAL STRUCTURE, AND THE AUTHORITY TO MANAGE BASIC ORGANIZATIONAL FUNCTIONS. THESE ISSUES ARE THEN DISCUSSED IN LIGHT OF THE SPECIAL FACTORS AFFECTING THE MANAGEMENT OF TRIAL COURT PERSONNEL. THE FOLLOWING SECTION PROVIDES A SERIES OF ASSESSMENT QUESTIONS IN ORGANIZATION, STAFFING, EMPLOYEE PERFORMANCE, AND EMPLOYEE RELATIONS AND DEALS WITH SYSTEM IMPROVEMENTS AND THE DEVELOPMENT OF SPECIALIZED PERSONNEL PROCEDURES. THE FINAL SECTION IS DESIGNED TO AID THOSE TRIAL COURTS PLANNING TO DEVELOP A COURT PERSONNEL SYSTEM OR TO SUBSTANTIALLY RESTRUCTURE AN EXISTING SYSTEM. THE SECTION ASSUMES THE NEED FOR A RELATIVELY SELF-CONTAINED AND INDEPENDENT JUDICIAL BRANCH SYSTEM AND PRESENTS A GENERAL FIVE-PHASE IMPLEMENTATION CHRONOLOGY FOR ITS DEVELOPMENT. TABULAR DATA ARE INCLUDED. SEE ALSO NCJ 52653, 53623, AND 53625.