Over the past several decades, the workload of federal district courts has changed significantly. On the civil side, perhaps as litigants seek to avoid the expense of elaborate discovery and prolonged motions practice and trials, more and more cases are resolved through alternative dispute resolution. On the criminal side, more and more cases are resolved through plea bargaining. The result is fewer and fewer trials. Our panel will discuss these phenomena, and their implications. What are the causes of these evolutions? Is there a lasting impacts on judges themselves? Are lawyers now required to hone different skills? Is there a lasting effect on the administration of justice, and civil society more generally?

Hon. Thomas Hardiman, United States Court of Appeals, Third Circuit
Hon. Michael B. Mukasey, Of Counsel, Debevoise & Plimpton, LLP
Hon. William E. Smith, Chief Judge, United States District Court, District of Rhode Island
Hon. Amul Thapar, United States Court of Appeals, Sixth Circuit
Moderator: Hon. Carlos T. Bea, United States Court of Appeals, Ninth Circuit