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Technology has transformed federal and state courts over the past 30 years. This Article discusses that transformation from the viewpoint of a judge who has been on the bench for 33 years--first in Idaho state court and later in Idaho federal district court. The Article documents how the District of Idaho went from 0 to 60 (and beyond)--with accompanying productivity spikes--all by embracing technology. It concludes by briefly considering what the future might hold and warns that while technology will take us far, it will perhaps always leave us just short of where we want to be. In the final analysis, the "last mile" of judicial analysis requires wisdom, a peculiarly human trait. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This is a judicial biography of Ronald Earl Longstaff. During a legal career that spanned almost 50 years, Longstaff served the United States District Court for the Southern District of Iowa in a remarkable variety of capacities. Beginning his legal career as a judicial clerk, he later became United States Commissioner, Clerk of Court, Magistrate Judge, and, finally, a United States District Court judge. Highly respected and admired, Longstaff exemplified the two qualities he viewed as central to judicial service: compassion and common sense. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]