NCJ Number
134881
Date Published
1991
Length
16 pages
Annotation
During 1990 to 1991, the total caseload in Arkansas trial courts continued a trend of many years of steady increase.
Abstract
The largest increases were in criminal and juvenile cases with a modest rise in civil cases and slight declines in chancery and probate cases. Trial courts also terminated a record 137,492 cases. Despite the increase in terminations, the number of cases pending grew to 113,339, an increase of 5.2 percent, and the increase in pending cases grew in every category of cases. The combination of judicial elections, the biannual meeting of the General Assembly, and major litigation in Federal court against the judiciary brought many changes such as judicial education, automation, and noted court actions. Future goals and objectives include more trial court staffing assistance, new judgeships, further automation, uniform fees and costs, and additions in judicial compensation.