CSU grades

[barkley]

For those in the know, is there any hope of the CSU going away as a failed experiment?

In the last three weeks, I have had three dockets wherein the CSU scheduled the reps too tight. As in, ALJ Jones had Representative Smith docketed at 9:15, and I had Representative Smith at 10:00. This is fine on paper, but if there is a technology problem or ALJ Jones goes long, then my docket is shot for the day.

Also, the VE situation has gotten weird in my neck of the woods. We had a list of 10 or so VEs we saw all the time. Starting next week, I don't have any of them over the next few months. It is all reps with firms I have never heard of. This is not fatal or anything, but when you work with someone, you get to know their quirks. I miss my local VEs and will really miss them if we ever go back to in person hearings.

I would give 50 cents to go back to local scheduling. If there were offices that did not know how to schedule, find the assistance they need.

[captn]

IMHO CSU is the dumbest idea the agency has ever hatched. Our office went from one GS 7 doing a decent job, to two GS9’s being assigned to it. They schedule for other offices, while other offices schedule for us. Makes no sense, other than some SES’er needing something to do.

[bettrlatethannevr]

Soon we will hear revisionist history as to how COVID has destroyed scheduling. CSU dismantled effective scheduling in 2019, COVID brought these failures to light in 2020. During extraordinary circumstances when we could badly use creativity, flexibility and understanding of the circumstances of specific hearing offices, CSU is structurally incapable of and inherently disinterested in providing any of this.

[nappyloxs]

See other posts.  

This is a problem when people who have never been in courtroom make decisions on courtroom process.  There are software programs and other resources for court scheduling.  This is why other courts have “administrators” and they even have an association. I once tried to point out some of their best practices, but quickly learned it was futile.  

CSU is good in theory, but has been implemented poorly in some regions.  My advice to OP tell HOCALJ that CSU needs to take into account that there may be tech difficulties.  Unfortunately it may not help much since they are scheduling as far out as possible.  Also, make sure the local manager is auditing dockets.  With phone hearings, it is super easy to schedule. When I was in charge of scheduling, we tried to schedule effectively.  Needless to say, “when I was in charge scheduling.”  

ME\VE is just a mess.  For some reason, TPTB are overly concerned about rotation.  This was even before CSU. My guess is it is a residual of something.  Local VEs are suppose to be give preference.  We had a VE who lived 30-45 minutes away.  They enjoyed our office and travelled without charging agency.  They may have even been “assigned” to our office under BPA.  However, CSU said they had to rotate and their company was actually within another office’s area.  Now the VE is occasionally assigned to our office. I don’t get it. It is easy to monitor VE/ME % per judge.  I get due process/random argument about VE/ME, but I also understand ALJ’s frustration. If monitored, it should not be a problem.   

Unfortunately, I think CSU will be taunted as a success with Covid, even though it was just a numbers game. My office has scheduled a number of hearings 2, 3+ times during Covid.  It makes # of hearings scheduled look good, but ignores the fact that it is just repeat scheduling based on hrd without considering the claimant did not answer at last hearing or two.

 Smh, I remember when my CSU asked me about what to do with July and August. They listened to one suggestion and ignored the others, because the other suggestions took some analyzing.  

ALJs, just keep complaining about CSU. It is easy to schedule, it is harder to schedule effectively.  It just takes some auditing and planning to schedule effectively.  As it is now, CSU can schedule whatever as long as it meshes with the spreadsheets. (Not talking about all CSUs as I hear some are doing well). 

[pumpkin]

It appears CSU schedulers were thrown into the lion’s den without any tools. Scheduling software should have been the first piece of the puzzle.

Software exists that allow hospitals to schedule multiple surgeons (judges) for a finite number of operating rooms (hearing rooms) with specific anesthesiologists (VEs). The software accommodates each particular surgeon’s preferences for length of procedure, starting time each morning, number of cases to be done each day, etc. This software has been commercially available for years.

[Loopstok]

I am of two minds of this. I have been vocally against the idea of a CSU in other forums. However, the CSU people in my region are honestly trying, and I have seen improvements in their getting, for example, the medical experts that I ask for. It's not like CSU was created because OCALJ thought, "Hey, let's find a bunch of people who are going to refuse to do their jobs". The people detailed to CSU really are doing their best. The fact that I have to communicate with them through a third party can cause annoying delays and the occasional busted hearing slot. But they're getting better at providing me with what I need.

The demise of local experts in lieu of contracted experts through a central warehouse is another issue that makes the CSU detailee's job harder -- how many times have I had an ME do post-hearing interrogatories, and then, when I need to schedule a supplemental hearing for attorney cross-exam of that ME, that ME is not available, and CSU has to get me a second expert, which means the whole interrogatory was for nothing?

[nappyloxs]

Aug 12, 2020 19:17:23 GMT -5 Loopstok said:

I am of two minds of this. I have been vocally against the idea of a CSU in other forums. However, the CSU people in my region are honestly trying, and I have seen improvements in their getting, for example, the medical experts that I ask for. It's not like CSU was created because OCALJ thought, "Hey, let's find a bunch of people who are going to refuse to do their jobs". The people detailed to CSU really are doing their best. The fact that I have to communicate with them through a third party can cause annoying delays and the occasional busted hearing slot. But they're getting better at providing me with what I need.

The demise of local experts in lieu of contracted experts through a central warehouse is another issue that makes the CSU detailee's job harder -- how many times have I had an ME do post-hearing interrogatories, and then, when I need to schedule a supplemental hearing for attorney cross-exam of that ME, that ME is not available, and CSU has to get me a second expert, which means the whole interrogatory was for nothing?

You are so right. The problems with CSU isn’t due to the employees. They want to work hard and get things right like anyone else.

2 MEs? SMH. Public forum.

[ducky]

Well I had 3 massive remands, two hearings at the same time, and another hearing scheduled in the middle of another hearing last week. So, you can guess what grade I’d give them. They can’t even follow their own rules which in our region are no more than 2 remands in a day. Best day was the day with 3 remands from federal courts one of which was ordered to have 3 experts in it back to back. Good times!! But, I’m super excited with the upcoming two months of several days of either 3 or 4 remands a day. Can’t wait...

[hopefalj]

Aug 15, 2020 21:41:28 GMT -5 ducky said:

Well I had 3 massive remands, two hearings at the same time, and another hearing scheduled in the middle of another hearing last week. So, you can guess what grade I’d give them. They can’t even follow their own rules which in our region are no more than 2 remands in a day. Best day was the day with 3 remands from federal courts one of which was ordered to have 3 experts in it back to back. Good times!! But, I’m super excited with the upcoming two months of several days of either 3 or 4 remands a day. Can’t wait...

Two hearings at the same time sounds really efficient, so maybe I'll look into that.

Remind me not to transfer to your office or your federal circuit. I don't have that many fed remands assigned to me that could be scheduled in that manner. I don't often mind having my own remands scheduled since I've already evaluated and adjudicated most of the period at issue and still have my notes from the previous hearing/record. However, I'm guessing you're mostly dealing with other judges' multi-remands, and those can be brutal.

Reading these stories leads me to believe I need to send our CSU scheduler flowers, chocolates, or a gift card to a place of their choosing.

[Baymax]

I’m really sick of CSU. It’s not the people. It’s the guidance and process they’re supposed to follow. It makes little sense. They’re back filling cases sometimes 3 days before the hearing; scheduling phone hearings on cases where the CL or rep has specifically opted-out of a phone hearing (I’m not opposed to re-contacting then and asking if they’re still opting out- but ask before you schedule it if they change their mind!). The double booked hearings, didn’t get an ME on a remand, then confirmed an ME with our HO but not with the ME (so the ME didn’t have it scheduled). There’s no consistency, no consideration for CPMS remarks I may have put in, and every week I’m having my HOD send them my complaints. Most of the time they correct them; but often it’s too late. Once I had to just postpone the hearing right out. My HO schedulers were so much better, as we could tweak their process as needed; but now, it’s like farting into the wind - I’m the only one who smells the stink. This was a bad idea, and I honestly wish that they’d abandon it altogether.

[steelrain]

I have experienced all the above problems and more with the CSU.

My tinfoil hat speculation for them scheduling hearings without MEs and without notice is that they get a check mark for scheduling a case and we get the demerit for having to postpone it.

[tripper]

Aug 10, 2020 17:51:35 GMT -5 barkley said:

For those in the know, is there any hope of the CSU going away as a failed experiment?

…

I would give 50 cents to go back to local scheduling. If there were offices that did not know how to schedule, find the assistance they need.

It seems that the answer to this question is yes. According to the AALJ president’s email, CSU will be phasing out and scheduling will be returned to local offices. This is surprising and very good news.

[elninost0rm]

Jun 13, 2022 17:21:26 GMT -5 tripper said:

Aug 10, 2020 17:51:35 GMT -5 barkley said:

For those in the know, is there any hope of the CSU going away as a failed experiment?

…

I would give 50 cents to go back to local scheduling. If there were offices that did not know how to schedule, find the assistance they need.

It seems that the answer to this question is yes. According to the AALJ president’s email, CSU will be phasing out and scheduling will be returned to local offices. This is surprising and very good news.

Not very good news for all the folks that took higher-graded NCSC roles and are now going to be floating in the void.

[bettrlatethannevr]

There were many hard working, great people who did all they could during the CSU era, especially in pandemic times. None of this was their fault - I hope they all land in good places. Management even deserves some credit for deciding to stop throwing good money after bad money on this. Bottom line - this was just a truly terrible idea reflective of non-inclusive decision-making. RIP CSU.