NCJ Number
62506
Date Published
1979
Length
331 pages
Annotation
THIS 1979 ANNUAL REPORT OF THE ADMINISTRATIVE OFFICE OF U.S. COURTS COVERS THE ACTIVITIES AND WORKLOADS OF FEDERAL COURTS.
Abstract
DISPOSITIONS, CASE FILINGS, AND NUMBERS OF JUDGESHIPS IN APPEALS COURTS, AS WELL AS CIVIL CASE VOLUME, HAVE INCREASED SUBSTANTIALLY SINCE 1978. DISTRICT CHANGES FOR COURTS ARE NOTED FOR ILLINOIS AND ACROSS THE COUNTRY, WHERE LEGISLATIVE ACTS ADDED 117 NEW DISTRICT JUDGESHIPS. DECLINES IN NUMBERS OF CRIMINAL CASES IN DISTRICT COURTS ARE DUE TO INCREASED STATE-LEVEL PROSECUTIONS. BOTH GRAND AND PETIT JURY MANAGEMENT AND JUROR SELECTION NEED IMPROVEMENTS. IN 1979, U.S. MAGISTRATES ASSISTED DISTRICT JUDGES IN ALMOST 92 FEDERAL DISTRICTS. WHILE GREATER NUMBERS OF FEDERAL PRISONERS WERE PAROLED IN 1979, USE OF PROBATION DECREASED OVER 1978, BUT BUSINESS BANKRUPTCIES DECLINED. NEW BANKRUPTCY MAGISTRATE, PROBATION, AND DRUG OFFENDER LEGISLATION AND COURT MANAGEMENT REVIEW ARE ALSO DISCUSSED. FEDERAL APPROPRIATIONS FOR THE U.S. COURTS, EXCLUDING THE SUPREME COURT, WERE $479 MILLION; 45 PERCENT OF ALL MONIES WERE APPROPRIATED FOR SALARIES OF SUPPORT PERSONNEL OR FACILITIES. STATISTICS ON COURTS' WORKLOADS REPORT OVER 20,000 CASES FILED AND 17,000 DISPOSED IN APPEALS COURTS. STATISTICS ON JUDGES' WORKLOADS, TYPES OF APPEALS FROM FEDERAL COURTS, PRISONER PETITIONS FILED, ORAL HEARINGS AND SUBMISSIONS ON BRIEFS, REVERSAL RATES, AND MANY OTHERS ARE INCLUDED. CIVIL COURT STATISTICS COVER ANTITRUST CASES, INTERSTATE COMMERCE COMMISSION CASES, CIVIL RIGHTS ISSUES, AND ENVIRONMENTAL CASES. APPENDIXES CONTAIN FURTHER STATISTICS. FOOTNOTES AND EXTENSIVE TABULAR INFORMATION ARE INCLUDED. (PAP)