NCJ Number
63239
Date Published
1979
Length
27 pages
Annotation
GRAPHS AND CHARTS ILLUSTRATE THIS PICTORIAL SUMMARY OF THE WORKLOAD OF THE FEDERAL JUDICIARY FOR THE YEAR ENDED JUNE 30, 1979.
Abstract
THE NUMBER OF APPEALS FILED IN 1979 CONTINUED IN ITS STEADY CLIMB TO 20,219 CASES. THIS SERIES OF INCREASES BEGAN IN THE LATE 1950'S AND WAS ONLY INTERRUPTED BY AN ALMOST INCONSEQUENTIAL DECLINE IN 1978. THE OMNIBUS JUDGESHIP ACT OF 1978 ADDED 117 NEW JUDGESHIPS TO THE DISTRICT COURTS, RAISING THE TOTAL AUTHORIZED TO 516. OF THE 516, ALL BUT 19 OF THE 399 PREVIOUSLY AUTHORIZED JUDGESHIPS WERE FILLED ON JUNE 30, 1979, AND 17 OF THE 117 JUDGESHIPS WERE FILLED BY THAT SAME DATE. THE VOLUME OF CIVIL LITIGATION IN THE DISTRICT COURTS CONTINUED ITS CLIMB FROM THE PREVIOUS YEAR TO A RECORD LEVEL OF 154,666 FILINGS. LEADING THE INCREASE IN CIVIL FILINGS WERE 9,254 SUITS FOR RECOVERY OF OVERPAYMENTS AND ENFORCEMENT OF JUDGMENTS. HOWEVER, THE NUMBER OF CRIMINAL PROSECUTIONS FILED IN DISTRICT COURTS CONTINUED TO DECLINE, FALLING 9.2 PERCENT FROM 35,983 IN 1978 TO 32,688 IN 1979. THE EFFECTIVENESS OF JUROR UTILIZATION IS SHOWN BY THE JUROR USAGE INDEX, WHICH IS THE AVERAGE NUMBER OF JURORS ON HAND FOR TRIAL EACH DAY. THE NUMBER OF TOTAL AVAILABLE JURORS DECLINED FOR THE THIRD YEAR IN A ROW TO 565,617 IN 1979. THE DECLINE IN THE INDEX (IN THE LAST 9 YEARS) AND THE INCREASE IN THE PROPORTION OF JURORS SELECTED OR SERVING INDICATE THAT THERE HAS BEEN IMPROVEMENT IN THE UTILIZATION OF PETIT JURORS IN THE DISTRICT COURTS. CHARTS ALSO DEPICT DUTIES PERFORMED BY U.S. MAGISTRATES AND ADDITIONAL DUTIES PERFORMED UNDER 28 U.S.C. 636(B); PERSONS UNDER SUPERVISION OF THE FEDERAL PROBATION SERVICE ON JUNE 30 BY TYPES OF SUPERVISION, 1970-79; INVESTIGATIVE REPORTS BY PROBATION OFFICERS, 1979; BANKRUPTCY CASES COMMENCED, 1967-79; DATA RELATED TO THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE ACT; AND PERSONNEL AND EXPENSES. A TOTAL OF 18 GRAPHS AND CHARTS ARE INCLUDED IN THE REPORT. (PRG)