This report to the Judicial Conference Committee on Court Administration and Case Management describes two different types of independent panels used in the silicone gel breast implants litigation.

This is an update to the FJC's 1995 study of the implementation of Rule 26 disclosure provisions by the U.S. Bankruptcy Courts. This update includes new data on disclosure provisions and related local rules collected from the Bankruptcy Courts during the summer of 2000. 

The Special Masters' Subcommittee of the Advisory Committee on Civil Rules of the Judicial Conference asked the Center to examine how often judges appointed special masters and what functions they asked masters to perform.

Under the current bankruptcy appellate system, appeals from dispositive orders of bankruptcy judges are taken to the district court or to the bankruptcy appellate panel, if one has been established and the district has chosen to participate, with further appeal as of right to the court of appeals