Roscoe Pound first presented his lecture The Causes of Dissatisfaction with the Administration of Justice in 1906. It was the heyday of the Progressive Era, a government reform movement that coupled concern for social justice with efforts to improve government efficiency. Progressives opposed waste, corruption, and ward politics and sought to change both the quality and scope of government services. Reformers addressed what they viewed as an anemic government response to substantial social problems and widespread corruption.

Fast forward to today: Justice Shepherd asks us to address The Causes of Dissatisfaction Roscoe Pound Never Thought About. In framing this discussion, one needs to consider how judges can affect satisfaction with democratic government and how that satisfaction, in turn, affects them. For courts to satisfy the citizenry, ensure the efficacy of their institutions, and maintain democratic accountability, they need to adapt to significant changes occurring in the delivery of public goods and the exercise of public authority.