This study explores the socio-legal context of economic rationality in the legal and, specifically, judicial systems. In so doing it explores the meaning and relevance of the concept of efficiency for the operation of courts and court systems and seeks to answer questions such as: in what sense can we say that the adjudicative process works efficiently? What are the relevant criteria for the measurement and assessment of court efficiency? Should the courts try to operate efficiently and to what extent is this viable? What is the proper relationship between -efficiency- and -justice-...