We continue to move forward with our Strategic Planning process and I am pleased to provide you an update on the latest development.
The Strategically Allocate Appellate and Special Litigation Resources Team provided the Senior Management Team (SMT) with a comprehensive plan to improve appellate representation for all clients, whether represented by staff or private assigned counsel, and to provide strategic litigation services in all practice areas. After careful study, the Team proposed that CPCS maintain practice specific Appeals Units and restructure the former Special litigation Unit into a Strategic Litigation Unit to serve all practice areas. The proposal included several recommendations to bolster appellate support for both staff and private assigned trial attorneys, insure that significant appellate matters are handled by best suited counsel, and reduce the number of counsel withdrawals. The Team also proposed that CPCS create a collaborative process to determine strategic litigation priorities. The SMT has endorsed the proposed overall structure – separate Appeals Units for the practice areas, substantially increased provision of appellate support to trial attorneys, and a unified Strategic Litigation Unit – as well as the vast majority of the Team’s specific proposals about how appeals should be assigned. The Team also proposed adding a number of staff positions to the Appeals and Strategic Litigation Units. During this fiscal year, we expect to fill some of the proposed positions, including: Director of MHLD Appeals; PDD Appeals Unit AIC; and Director of Strategic Litigation. We will fill further appellate and Strategic Litigation positions as the budget permits, recognizing that the Team’s Proposal was in response to our request for a plan to be implemented over the next 3-5 years.
The SMT is extremely appreciative of the work completed by the Team. There was quite a lot of thought and effort put into their proposal and it showed in the presentation. Team members took great care to investigate and consider all aspects of our appellate and strategic litigation needs, and to present a thorough and well-reasoned proposal.
We will continue to keep you informed as the process moves forward in the coming weeks.
Anthony J. Benedetti
Chief Counsel