NCJ Number
69195
Date Published
1977
Length
97 pages
Annotation
THIS 1977 ANNUAL REPORT OF THE ARKANSAS JUDICIAL DEPARTMENT CONTAINS STATISTICS FROM THE SUPREME AND OTHER COURTS, OFFICE OF THE PUBLIC DEFENDER, AND OTHERS.
Abstract
THE SUPREME COURT RULED ON 166 CRIMINAL AND 275 CIVIL CASES; CASES TOOK 137 TO 179 DAYS FROM FILING WITH THE SUPREME COURT TO DECISION. REPORTS ARE ALSO PRESENTED ON THE PROFESSIONAL CONDUCT AND OTHER COMMITTEES SUPERVISED BY THE SUPREME COURT. MOST SUPREME COURT CIVIL DECISIONS INVOLVED CONTRACTS, PROPERTY SETTLEMENT, OR WILLS AND TRUSTS. ALMOST 36,000 CASES WERE FILED IN CIRCUIT COURTS, UP 8.59 PERCENT FROM 1976; CIVIL CASELOADS GREW MOST RAPIDLY. CHANCERY COURT CASES INCREASED 4 PERCENT OVER 1976. DISPOSITIONS INCREASED 12 PERCENT IN CIRCUIT COURT (CRIMINAL CASES INCREASING 17 PERCENT) AND 8 PERCENT IN CHANCERY COURT. INCLUDED TABLES LIST CIRCUIT AND CHANCERY COURT JUDGES, POPULATION PER JUDGE, AND COMPARE NUMBERS OF CASES FILED, 1969-1978. PROSECUTING ATTORNEYS, ELECTED FOR 2-YEAR TERMS IN EACH CIRCUIT, COMMENCE ALL CIVIL AND CRIMINAL ACTION CONCERNING THE STATE OR A COUNTY IN THE CIRCUIT, AND ADVISE LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICERS ABOUT THE LAW. TABLES LIST ARKANSAS PROSECUTING ATTORNEYS. PUBLIC DEFENDERS WERE ESTABLISHED IN 1975 FOLLOWING U.S. SUPREME COURT DECISIONS MANDATING ATTORNEYS FOR INDIGENT DEFENDANTS. PUBLIC DEFENDERS REPRESENTED 3,040 DEFENDANTS IN 1977 AND HANDLED ALMOST 2,500 FELONIES. INFORMATION IS ALSO PRESENTED ON COURT REPORTERS AND CLERKS, COURTS OF LIMITED JURISDICTION AND COMMON PLEAS, PROBATE, MUNICIPAL COURTS, AND OTHERS. MUCH TABULAR INFORMATION IS PROVIDED.