THE HIERARCHY OF COURT ADMINISTRATION

Government often struggles with priorities when budgets must be cut. Often, both courts and officials in the two other branches search statutes and rules for "mandates" for what courts must do and, indirectly, what is not essential. Neither statutes nor court rules embrace all that courts must do to fulfill their adjudicatory mission plus be a viable branch of government. Nor do they suggest priorities when cuts are needed. The Hierarchy of Court Administration establishes priorities by drawing parallels between Maslows hierarchy of needs for humans and the institutional needs of courts. Most critically, it defines courts' mission critical needs as a parallel to Maslow's physiological needs of humans, but then also suggests priorities after those needs are met.