3tate I court caseload statistics:

Annual Report, 1978

CONFERENCE OF STATE COURT ADMINISTRATORS ALABAMA ALASKA ARIZONA AR CALIFORNIA COLORADO CONNECTICUT DELAWARE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA GEORGIA HAWAII IDAHO ILLINOIS INDIANA IOWA KANSAS KENTUCKY LO MAINE MARYLAND MASSACHUSETTS MICHIGAN MINNESOTA MISSISSIPPI M MONTANA NEBRASKA '0 NEVADA NEWHAMPSHIRE NEWJERSEY NEWMEXICO NE NORTHCAROLINA NORTHDAKOTA OHIO OKLAHOMA OREGON PENNSYLVANIA ISLAND SOUTH CAROLINA SOUTH DAKOTA TENNESSEE TEXAS UTAH V VIRGINIA WASHINGTON WESTVIRGINIA WISCONSIN WYOMING ALABAMA ALA ARKANSAS CALIFORNIA COLORADO CONNECTICUT DELAWARE DISTRICT OF C FLORIDA GEORGIA HAWAII IDAHO ILLINOIS INDIANA IOWA KANSAS KEN LOUISIANA MAINE MARYLAND MASSACHUSETTS MICHIGAN MINNESOTA MIS MISSOURI MONTANA NEBRASKA NEVADA NEW HAMPSHIRE NEW JERSEY NEW NEW YORK NORTH CAROLINA NORTH DAKOTA OHIO OKLAHOMA OREGON PE PUERTORICO RHODEISLAND SOUTHCAROLINA SOUTHDAKOTA TENNESSEE TEXAS UTAH VIRGINIA WASHINGTON WESTVIRGINIA WISCONSIN WYOMING ALABAMA

NATIONAL CENTER FOR STATE COURTS

National Courts Statistics project July, 1983

Library Nafional Center for State Court0

300 Newport Ave. willicsmsburg, VA 23 I 85

I M P O R T A N T

W e have provided a n e v a l u a t i o n s h e e t a t t h e end of t h i s p u b l i c a t i o n . It w i l l assist us i n improving f u t u r e r e p o r t s i f you complete and r e t u r n i t a t your convenience.

Th i s p r o j e c t was suppor ted by Fede ra l Grant N o . 82BJ-CX-KO14 awarded t o t h e Na t iona l Center f o r S t a t e Cour ts , Wil l iamsburg, V i r g i n i a , by t h e Bureau of J u s t i c e S t a t i s t i c s (BJS), U.S. Department of J u s t i c e , under t h e Omnibus C r i m e Cont ro l and Safe S t r e e t s Act of 1968, a s amended. The Nat iona l Court S t a t i s t i c s P r o j e c t i s d i r e c t e d by Vic to r E. Flango f o r t h e Na t iona l Center f o r S t a t e Cour ts and monitored by Car l a K. Gaskins f o r BJS. P o i n t s of view o r op in ions s t a t e d i n t h i s document are those of t h e au tho r and do no t n e c e s s a r i l y r e p r e s e n t t h e o f f i c i a l p o s i t i o n o r p o l i c i e s of t h e U.S. Department of J u s t i c e .

Copyright 0 1983 by Na t iona l Center f o r S t a t e Courts P r in t ed i n United S t a t e s of America

Na t iona l Center p u b l i c a t i o n No. R-0080

This S t a t e Court Caseload S t a t i s t i c s Annual Report , 1978 i s the f o u r t h i n a s e r i e s of documents c o n t a i n i n g s t a t i s t i c a l case load d a t a compiled from t h e annual r e p o r t s of each s t a t e c o u r t system and from o t h e r a v a i l a b l e d a t a . It i s t h e r e s u l t of the coopera t ive e f f o r t of t h e Nat iona l Center f o r S t a t e Courts and t h e Conference of S t a t e Court Adminis- t r a t o r s (COSCA) t o develop w i t h i n the Nat iona l Center a n a t i o n a l da tabase of s t a t e c o u r t case load s t a t i s t i c s .

The Nat iona l Court S t a t i s t i c s P r o j e c t (NCSP) c o n t i n u e s t o expand t h e scope of i t s a c t i v i t i e s and c a p a b i l i t i e s , s h i f t i n g i t s focus from d a t a c o l l e c - t i o n and p u b l i c a t i o n t o the a n a l y s i s of t h e s e d a t a f o r t h e b e n e f i t of t h e c o u r t s community. This y e a r l y Annual Report, however, w i l l cont inue t o be t h e p r i n c i p a l p r o j e c t p u b l i c a t i o n . From y e a r t o year the da ta contained i n i t demonstrate t h e gradual i.mprovement and i n c r e a s i n g q u a l i t y of c o u r t d a t a .

The Conference of S t a t e Court Adminis t ra tors (COSCA) cont inues t o g ive i t s suppor t t o the Nat iona l Court S t a t i s t i c s P r o j e c t i n i t s e f f o r t s t o e s t a b l i s h w i t h i n t h e Nat iona l Center f o r S t a t e Courts (NCSC) t h e c a p a b i l i t y of g a t h e r i n g , analyz- i n g , and d isseminat ing s t a t i s t i c a l in format ion on each s t a t e c o u r t system i n the n a t i o n . The pro- j e c t has been made a coopera t ive e f f o r t between COSCA and t h e NCSC by g i v i n g p o l i c y c o n t r o l and d i r e c t i o n over t h e p r o j e c t t o a committee of s t a t e c o u r t a d m i n i s t r a t o r s s e l e c t e d from COSCA.

This f o u r t h e d i t i o n of t h e Annual Report in- c ludes some improvements and a d d i t i o n s over d a t a and t a b l e s conta ined i n t h e previous e d i t i o n s of t h e r e p o r t . In making t h e s e improvements, w e con- t i n u e t o be guided by the u s e r s of t h i s informa- t i o n . Many q u e s t i o n s have been asked of s t a f f concerning t h e product ion of opinions i n a p p e l l a t e c o u r t s . In response t o t h e s e i n q u i r i e s , a t a b l e o u t l i n i n g t h e number of op in ions w r i t t e n i n appel- l a t e c o u r t s , i d e n t i f i e d by case t y p e , i s i-ncluded w i t h t h e o t h e r a p p e l l a t e c o u r t summary t a b l e s i n P a r t I. Modif ica t ions have a l s o been made t o t h e way i n which t h e t r i a l d a t a from g e n e r a l and l i m - i t e d j u r i s d i c t i o n c o u r t s a r e presented . It i s our b e l i e f t h a t t h e s e a d d i t i o n s and m o d i f i c a t i o n s w i l l

The Nat iona l Center has been a s s i s t e d i n t h e product ion of t h e Annual Report by s t a t e and l o c a l - l e v e l c o u r t personnel from a c r o s s t h e count ry who provide t h e r a w d a t a f o r i t . The l e a d e r s h i p of COSCA and e s p e c i a l l y t h e COSCA-CSIS Committee, c h a i r e d s u c c e s s i v e l y by Bert Montague, Larry Polansky, and now by Walter Kane, have been re- s p o n s i b l e f o r provid ing guidance t o p r o j e c t s t a f f , he lp ing t o f i n d ways t o p r e s e n t t h e s e d a t a i n a way t h a t i s both-comprehensive and comprehensible.

Edward B. McConnell Execut ive D i r e c t o r Nat iona l Center f o r S t a t e Cour ts

h e l p t h e u s e r s of t h i s r e p o r t t o f i n d t h e informa- t i o n they need i n a form t h a t i s u s e f u l t o them.

A s always, w e must c a u t i o n t h e r e a d e r of t h i s r e p o r t t o pay c l o s e a t t e n t i o n t o a l l the i n d i c a - t i o n s of t h e completeness and comparabi l i ty of d a t a , and t o read t h e i n t r o d u c t i o n t o t h e r e p o r t where t h e methdology used t o c o n s t r u c t t h e r e p o r t and t h e l i m i t a t i o n s on i t s use a r e set o u t . An i n s p e c t i o n of t h e t h r e e c u r r e n t l y a v a i l a b l e e d i - t i o n s of t h e r e p o r t should demonstrate t o t h e r e a d e r t h a t t h e q u a l i t y and q u a n t i t y of c o u r t - r e l a t e d d a t a cont inue t o improve.

Walter?. Kane, Chairman COSCA-NCSP Committee Conference of S t a t e Court

Adminis t r a t o r s

iv

Conference of State Court Administrators National Court Statistics Project Committee Walter J. Kane, Chairman (1982 t o p r e s e n t ) S t a t e Court Adminis t ra tor , Rhode Is land

Larry P. Polansky, Chairman (1981 t o 1982) Execut ive O f f i c e r of t h e D i s t r i c t

of Columbia Courts

Alexander F. B a r b i e r i (1977 t o 1982) S t a t e Court Adminis t ra tor , Pennsylvania

E l i z a b e t h D. Belshaw (1977 t o 1979 and

S t a t e Court Adminis t ra tor , Oregon 1981 t o p r e s e n t )

William G. Bohn (1982 t o p r e s e n t ) S t a t e Court Adminis t ra tor , North Dakota

Hugh M. C o l l i n s (1982 t o p r e s e n t ) Deputy J u d i c i a l Adminis t ra tor , Louis iana

Sue K. Dosal (1982 t o p r e s e n t ) S t a t e Court Adminis t ra tor , Minnesota

National Center for State Courts Board of Directors Chief Judge Lawrence H. Cook, Pres ident Court of Appeals of New York

Chief J u s t i c e Ralph J. E r i c k s t a d , P r e s i d e n t - e l e c t Supreme Court of North Dakota

Lester E a r l Cingcade, Vice-president Adminis t ra t ive D i r e c t o r of t h e Cour ts , Hawaii

Chief J u s t i c e 0. Don Barnes Supreme Court of Oklahoma

Judge Dorothy T. Beasley S t a t e Court of F u l t o n County, Georgia

Judge George C. Berry ,Probate Court , Missouri

Pres id ing Judge Robert C. Broomfield Superior Court of Maricopa County, Arizona

Judge Mercedes F. Deiz C i r c u i t Court of Oregon

Hal ibur ton F a l e s , 2d White and Case, N e w York

Chief J u s t i c e William H. D. Fones Supreme Court of Tennessee

National Courts Statistics Project Staff Victor E. Flango, P r o j e c t D i r e c t o r Mary Louise C l i f f o r d , S t a f f Assoc ia te Mary E. E l s n e r , S t a f f A s s o c i a t e Robert T. Roper, S t a f f A s s o c i a t e J. Michael Gray, Legal Research A s s i s t a n t Terry N. Grimes, Legal Research A s s i s t a n t James C. Holahan, Legal Research A s s i s t a n t Brenda W. Jones, P r o j e c t S e c r e t a r y

Roy 0. Gulley (1978 t o p r e s e n t ) D i r e c t o r , Adminis t ra t ive O f f i c e of t h e Cour ts ,

I l l i n o i s

L. M. Jacobs I V (1982 t o p r e s e n t ) Execut ive Court Adminis t ra tor , D e t r o i t , Michigan

J. Denis Moran (1983) D i r e c t o r of S t a t e Cour ts , Wisconsin

Richard J. Richardson (1982 t o p r e s e n t ) U n i v e r s i t y of North C a r o l i n a

Jan H. Schul tz (1982) Manager of Agency Informat ion Systems, Alabama

F r a n c i s J. T a i l l e f e r (1982 t o p r e s e n t ) D i r e c t o r of Informat ion S e r v i c e s , North Caro l ina

James D. Thomas (1979 t o 1982) S t a t e Court Adminis t ra tor , Colorado

Linwood Holton Vice-president and General Counsel American Council of L i f e Insurance , D.C.

Judge Wilfred W. Nuernberger Separa te J u v e n i l e Court of Lancaster County,

Nebraska

Pres id ing J u s t i c e John T. R a c a n e l l i Court of Appeal, C a l i f o r n i a

Chief J u s t i c e Howard C. Ryan Supreme Court of I l l i n o i s

Judge K a l i s t e J. Saloom, Jr. C i t y Court of b f a y e t t e , Louis iana

Pres id ing Judge Leo M. S p e l l a c y Court of Common Pleas of Cuyahoga County,

Ohio

Char les H. S t a r r e t t , Jr. Court Adminis t ra tor , Court of Common

P l e a s of Allegheny County, Pennsylvania

James D. Thomas S t a t e Court Adminis t ra tor , Colorado

Execut ive D i r e c t o r : Edward B. McConnell

Brenda N. Snyder, Word Process ing Superv isor P a t r i c i a H. Maddox, Word Process ing S e c r e t a r y Lynn C. Adams, Word Process ing S e c r e t a r y J u d i t h A. Brown, Word Process ing S e c r e t a r y

V

Acknowledgments The p r e p a r a t i o n of S t a t e Court Caseload S t a -

t i s t i c s : Annual Report , 1978 has been superv ised and g r e a t l y a s s i s t e d by t h e Court S t a t i s t i c s and informat ion Systems (CSIS) Committee appointed from t h e membership of t h e Conference of S t a t e Court Adminis t ra tors (COSCA). The CSIS Committee mem- b e r s have g iven generously of t h e i r t ime, t a l e n t , and exper ience , and t h e i r p a r t i c i p a t i o n has been i n v a l u a b l e t o t h e p r o j e c t s t a f f . The p o s i t i v e c o n t r o l e x e r t e d by COSCA through t h i s conunittee, us ing a review and approval process , has g r e a t l y enhanced t h e q u a l i t y of t h i s r e p o r t .

The COSCA CSIS Committee members, however, a r e not t h e only COSCA members whose a s s i s t a n c e has been v i t a l t o t h e product ion of t h i s document. The a d m i n i s t r a t o r s and t h e i r s t a f f i n a l l t h e 50 s t a t e s , t h e D i s t r i c t of Columbia, Guam, and Puerto Rico have provided t h e Nat iona l Court S t a t i s t i c s P r o j e c t with whatever research m a t e r i a l s they had a v a i l a b l e , both publ ished and unpubl ished, and they have been c o n s i s t e n t l y p a t i e n t and h e l p f u l i n an-

swering w r i t t e n and telephoned i n q u i r i e s f o r more d a t a o r f o r e x p l a n a t i o n s of the d a t a provided. Their cont inuing support of t h e development of a n a t i o n a l d a t a base of s t a t e c o u r t s t a t i s t i c s with- i n t h e Nat iona l Center f o r S t a t e Cour ts i s t h e c r u c i a l element i n determining t h e q u a l i t y of t h e s t a t i s t i c s t h a t a r e being gathered.

The members of t h e Nat iona l Conference of Appel la te Court Clerks a r e another i n d i s p e n s a b l e source of much-needed d a t a . The c l e r k s volunteered t o provide and v e r i f y a p p e l l a t e c o u r t d a t a t h a t i n many s t a t e s a r e u n a v a i l a b l e from any o t h e r source. Their a s s i s t a n c e has been inva luable i n i n c r e a s i n g both t h e q u a n t i t y and t h e q u a l i t y of a p p e l l a t e c o u r t d a t a a v a i l a b l e t o t h e p r o j e c t .

The Nat iona l Court S t a t i s t i c s P r o j e c t s t a f f would l i k e t o recognize and thank a l l t h e s e many i n d i v i d u a l s who have c o n t r i b u t e d t o t h i s f o u r t h i n the s e r i e s of annual r e p o r t s on s t a t e c o u r t case- load s t a t i s t i c s .

Vi

Highlights Product ion of t h e Annual Report s e r i e s i s an

evolu t ionary process w i t h t h e long-term goal of improvement of t h e s t a t i s t i c a l series being fore- most f o r t h e Nat iona l Court S t a t i s t i c s P r o j e c t . This process i s d iscussed on pages 8 and 9, and t h e dynamics f o r improvement and i n t e r r e l a t i o n s h i p s of p r o j e c t documents are d iscussed on page 9.

Data a v a i l a b i l i t y has improved g r e a t l y from t h e f i r s t h a l f of t h i s c e n t u r y , when t h e f i r s t n a t i o n a l compi la t ion of case load d a t a was at tempted. This improvement i n t h e q u a n t i t y of a v a i l a b l e d a t a h a s cont inued with s i g n i f i c a n t l y more d a t a being re- por ted f o r 1977 and 1978 t h a n f o r 1975 o r 1976. Some g r o s s volume d a t a a r e d isp layed i n t h i s r e p o r t f o r a l l a p p e l l a t e c o u r t s , f o r most of t h e t r i a l c o u r t s of genera l j u r i s d i c t i o n , and f o r many of t h e t r i a l c o u r t s of l i m i t e d o r s p e c i a l j u r i s d i c t i o n . However, t h e v a l i d i t y and r e l i a b i l i t y of much of t h e d a t a repor ted has not been a s c e r t a i n e d .

S u b s t a n t i a l e f f o r t by t h e Nat iona l Court Sta- t i s t i c s P r o j e c t (NCSP) s t a f f and t h e Conference of S t a t e Court Adminis t ra tors NCSP Committee w a s re- qui red t o develop a methodology f o r d i s p l a y i n g na- t ionwide s t a t e c o u r t case load f o r t h e f i r s t annual r e p o r t , publ ished i n 1979 t o cover t h e 1975 c o u r t year . During pre l iminary a t tempts t o aggrega te a v a i l a b l e s t a t i s t i c s i n t o s p e c i f i c groupings, it became obvious t h a t any r e a l i s t i c compi la t ion must have a s t r u c t u r e der ived from, not superimposed upon, t h e d a t a repor ted by t h e states. The second annual r e p o r t , publ ished i n 1980, r e f l e c t e d t h a t o r i e n t a t i o n and emphasis, wi th augmentations made t o improve t h e p r e s e n t a t i o n of t h e d a t a and t o ac- commodate t h e a d d i t i o n of l i m i t e d j u r i s d i c t i o n d a t a , I n t h e t h i r d e d i t i o n of t h e Annual Report s e r i e s , t h e summary t a b l e s were e x t e n s i v e l y re- v i s e d t o r e f l e c t recommendations made by members of t h e Methodological Review Panel . The summary s t a t i s t i c s as presented i n t h i s f o u r t h annual re- por t r e f l e c t t h e e x i s t i n g s i t u a t i o n i n s t a t e c o u r t s t a t i s t i c s and a r e presented i n a format designed t o increase t h e i r u s e f u l n e s s .

For t h e r e a d e r of t h i s document, cau t ionary notes n e c e s s a r i l y abound. Because of many s t a t e - t o - s t a t e v a r i a t i o n s i n t h e k inds of d a t a repor ted , t h e summary t a b l e s i n t h i s annual r e p o r t do not permit e x t e n s i v e , v a l i d , d i r e c t comparisons of caseload among s t a t e s wi thout c a r e f u l examination oE a l l t h e f a c t o r s involved i n a s s u r i n g t h a t t h e d a t a a r e comparable. V a r i a t i o n s i n d a t a a v a i l a - b i l i t y , c o u r t o r g a n i z a t i o n , s u b j e c t m a t t e r j u r i s - d i c t i o n , d e f i n i t i o n s of case types and u n i t s of count , r e p o r t i n g p e r i o d s , and t h e degrees of com- p l e t e n e s s and accuracy of d a t a a l l combine t o make c r o s s - j u r i s d i c t i o n a l comparisons extremely complex. These v a r i a t i o n s a r e d iscussed i n genera l terms i n t h e i n t r o d u c t i o n t o t h e r e p o r t on pages 3 through 6 . The l i m i t a t i o n s on a n a l y s i s s e c t i o n (pages 7 and 8) provides an i n d i c a t i o n of t h e kinds of anal- y s i s t h a t can and cannot be made wi th t h e d a t a i n t h i s r e p o r t .

Comparisons among t h e 1978 d a t a contained i n t h i s r e p o r t and t h e 1975, 1976, and 1977 d a t a con- ta ined i n t h e f i r s t t h r e e r e p o r t s i n t h i s series should be made only a f t e r c a r e f u l examination of t h e f a c t o r s mentioned above t o a s c e r t a i n t h a t t h e s e f a c t o r s have not changed f o r t h e c o u r t s of i n t e r e s t +

The r e p o r t i s d iv ided i n t o two p a r t s , each with i t s own purpose. The summary s t a t i s t i c a l t a b l e s i n P a r t I were c o n s t r u c t e d from t h e i n d i v i d u a l

c o u r t p r o f i l e s f o r a l l t h e s t a t e s found i n P a r t 11. Depending on t h e i n t e r e s t of t h e u s e r , he can pro- ceed from t h e g e n e r a l t o t h e s p e c i f i c o r v i c e versa . Users of t h e r e p o r t may l o c a t e a summary t a b l e of i n t e r e s t i n P a r t I , f o r example, one con- t a i n i n g case load inventory d a t a f o r domestic r e l a - t i o n s cases . An examinat ion of t h e d a t a conta ined i n t h e t a b l e may s t i m u l a t e q u e s t i o n s t h a t a r e an- swered i n p a r t by r e f e r e n c e t o e i t h e r t h e c o u r t o r g a n i z a t i o n c h a r t s o r i n d i v i d u a l c o u r t p r o f i l e s conta ined i n P a r t 11. Another approach i s t o f i r s t examine a c o u r t p r o f i l e i n P a r t I1 of t h e document, and then t u r n t o t h e a p p r o p r i a t e summary t a b l e s i n P a r t I t o compare case load volume of o t h e r c o u r t s w i t h s i m i l a r j u r i s d i c t i o n t o t h a t of t h e c o u r t of i n t e r e s t .

This two-part s t r u c t u r e f o r t h e document re- qui red i t s p r e p a r a t i o n t o proceed i n s tages . F i r s t an overview c o u r t o r g a n i z a t i o n c h a r t and an indi- v i d u a l s t a t i s t i c a l p r o f i l e w a s prepared f o r each s t a t e ’ s a p p e l l a t e and t r i a l c o u r t s . The r e s u l t i n g documentation makes up P a r t I1 of t h i s r e p o r t . Data were then compiled i n t o nat ionwide inventory s t a - t i s t i c s (beginning pending, f i l e d , d i sposed , and end pending). The inventory s t a t i s t i c s were sepa- r a t e d where p o s s i b l e i n t o broad c a s e ca tegory c l a s s i f i c a t i o n s , chosen t o r e f l e c t t h e kinds of d a t a being repor ted by t h e s t a t e s .

S e v e r a l g e n e r a l o b s e r v a t i o n s can be made about t h e 1978 s t a t e c o u r t case load d a t a . F i r s t , i n ad- d i t i o n t o t h e i n c r e a s e i n d a t a a v a i l a b l e , t h e num- b e r of c a s e s f i l e d i n t h e c o u r t s h a s a l s o increased from 1977 t o 1978. The case load estimates i n d i c a t e t h a t t h e number of c a s e s f i l e d p e r judge has in- c reased . Most t r i a l c o u r t s a l s o r e p o r t e d i n c r e a s e s i n t h e number of f i l i n g s from 1977 t o 1978. Sec- ond, t h e c o u r t s have managed t o handle t h i s in - c r e a s e i n f i l i n g s f a i r l y w e l l w i t h most c o u r t s d i s p o s i n g between 90 and 100 p e r c e n t of t h e number of cases f i l e d . A few c o u r t s disposed more c a s e s than w e r e f i l e d . The d i s p o s i t i o n r a t e s of less than 100 p e r c e n t , however, mean t h a t most c o u r t s are adding t o t h e i r pending case load . For c o u r t s r e p o r t i n g pending c a s e l o a d , most had i n c r e a s e s of l e s s t h a n 20 percent . F i n a l l y , f o r c o u r t s repor t - ing pending and f i l e d d a t a , t h e number of cases pending a t t h e end of t h e year a s a p e r c e n t of t h e number of c a s e s f i l e d was less than 60 percent f o r most c o u r t s of l a s t r e s o r t , less than 90 percent f o r most i n t e r m e d i a t e a p p e l l a t e c o u r t s and f o r c i v i l casef low i n most t r i a l c o u r t s , l e s s than 50 percent f o r c r i m i n a l casef low i n most t r i a l c o u r t s , and less than 50 percent f o r j u v e n i l e casef low i n most t r i a l c o u r t s .

The composition of t h e case load of t h e c o u r t s i s a l s o of i n t e r e s t . I n t h e a p p e l l a t e c o u r t s , t h e d a t a a v a i l a b l e i n d i c a t e t h a t approximately 55 per- c e n t of t h e appea ls f i l e d i n 1978 were c i v i l ap- p e a l s . For t h e t r i a l c o u r t s i n 1978 t h e caseload e s t i m a t e s i n d i c a t e t h a t of t h e 85.7 m i l l i o n c a s e s f i l e d , approximate ly .13 m i l l i o n were c i v i l c a s e s , 13.7 m i l l i o n were c r i m i n a l c a s e s , 57.5 m i l l i o n were t r a f f i c c a s e s , and 1.5 m i l l i o n were j u v e n i l e cases .

The c o u r t o r g a n i z a t i o n c h a r t s and s t a t i s t i c a l p r o f i l e s i n P a r t I1 a r e h e l p f u l r e f e r e n c e s because they i n d i c a t e not on ly t h e o r g a n i z a t i o n and s u b j e c t m a t t e r j u r i s d i c t i o n of t h e c o u r t s i n each s t a t e , but a l s o t h e d i f f e r e n c e s i n r e p o r t i n g p e r i o d s , u n i t s of count , and v a r i a t i o n s i n c a s e c a t e g o r i e s and c l a s s i f i c a t i o n s . They show a t a g lance how much d a t a were a v a i l a b l e f o r comparison purposes.

vi i

Contents Foreword . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Acknowledgments . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Highlights . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . List of figures . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . List of tables . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . List of state court statistical profiles . . .

Page iii

vi vii vii

V

X

Part I: 1978 State court caseload summary statistics

Introduction . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13 summary tables . . . . . . . . . . . . 13 Disposed as a percent of filed . . . . 13 End pending as a percent of filed . . 13 Number change in pending caseload . . 13 Percent change in pending caseload . . 13 Filed per unit of population . . . . . 13 Disposed and end pending per unit of population . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13

Filed and disposed per judge . . . . . 13

Measures of analysis used on

Appellate court summary statistics . . . . 14 Trial court summary statistics . . . . . . 37

Introduction

National Court Statistics Project . . . . Methodology employed . . . . . . . . . . . Data sources . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Scope of the report . . . . . . . . . . Case Category classifications . . . . . Format used . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Profiles . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Summary tables . . . . . . . . . . . . Footnotes . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Verification of data . . . . . . . . . . Limitations on use of data displayed . . . Variations in court organization . . . . Variations in subject matter jurisdiction . . . . . . . . . . . . . Variations in definitions . . . . . . . Variations in completeness and accuracy of data. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Variations in reporting periods . . . . Limitations on analysis . . . . . . . .

Continuing development of the series . . . Dynamics of improvement . . . . . . . .

3 3 3 3 3 4 4 4 4 4 4 5

5 6

6 8 8 9 10

Part 11: State court statistical profiles

Explanation of contents of each profile . 124 Prototype of state court system chart . 125 Prototype of court of last resort or intermediate appellate court chart . . 126

Prototype of court of general jurisdiction or court of limited jurisdiction chart . . . . . . . . . . 128

State court profiles: Alabama through Wyoming . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 132

Appendices

Appendix A: Technical discussion of estimation procedure . . . 447

Appendix B: Sources of 1978 state court caseload statistics . . . . 452

Page Figure A: Civil case definition, for state courts not using the filing of a petition or complaint . . 6 List of figures

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Figure B: Criminal case unit of count, used by trial courts, by state 7 Figure C: Reporting periods for state courts, not using the calendar year, 1978 9 . . . . . . . . . . .

List of tables Table 1: Reported and estimated national caseload for courts of last resort, intermediate appellate

all courts, and appellate courts, 1978. Estimated cases per judge and per 100,000 population . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16 and all appellate courts, 1978. Number and percent change in pending. Number of courts of last resort and intermediate appellate courts. Number of judges in each appellate court. State population. Reported

Table 2: Reported appellate court caseload for courts of last resort, intermediate appellate courts,

national totals with number of states reporting and percent of population represented. . . . 18 Table 3 : Detailed category caseload for courts of last resort, 1978.

Appeals, original proceedings, requests to appeal, sentence review only, and total cases. Reported national totals with number of states reporting and percent of population represented . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20

Page

viii

Table 4:

Table 5 :

Table 6:

Table 7:

Table 8:

Table 9:

Table 10:

Table 11:

Table 12:

Table 13:

Table 14:

Table 15:

Table 16:

Table 17:

Table 18:

Table 19:

Table 20:

Table 21:

Table 22:

Table 23:

D e t a i l e d ca tegory case load f o r i n t e r m e d i a t e a p p e l l a t e c o u r t s , 1978. Appeals, o r i g i n a l proceedings, r e q u e s t s t o appea l , and t o t a l cases . Reported n a t i o n a l t o t a l s wi th number of s t a t e s r e p o r t i n g and p e r c e n t of popula t ion represented . . . . . . . . Caseload f o r c o u r t s of l a s t r e s o r t i n s ta tes wi th i n t e r m e d i a t e a p p e l l a t e c o u r t s , 1978. S t a t e populat ion. Number and percent change i n pending. F i l e d and disposed per judge. F i l e d , d i sposed , and end pending p e r 100,000 popula t ion . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Caseload f o r c o u r t s of l a s t r e s o r t i n s ta tes wi thout i n t e r m e d i a t e a p p e l l a t e c o u r t s , 1978. S t a t e populat ion. change i n pending. F i l e d and disposed per judge. F i l e d , d i sposed , and end pending p e r 100,000 popula t ion . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Caseload f o r i n t e r m e d i a t e a p p e l l a t e c o u r t s , 1978. S t a t e populat ion. change i n pending. F i l e d and disposed p e r judge. F i l e d , d i sposed , and end pending p e r 100,000 popula t ion . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Caseload f o r appea ls and r e q u e s t s t o appeal ( c i v i l and c r i m i n a l ) and t o t a l c a s e s f o r c o u r t s of l a s t r e s o r t , 1 9 7 8 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Caseload f o r appea ls and r e q u e s t s t o appeal ( c i v i l and c r i m i n a l ) and t o t a l c a s e s f o r in te rmedia te a p p e l l a t e c o u r t s , 1978 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Opinions r e p o r t e d by a p p e l l a t e c o u r t s , 1978. Courts r e p o r t i n g d i s p o s i t i o n s by opinion. by case type. T o t a l cases disposed by opin ion , t o t a l c a s e s d isposed , and number o f j u s t i c e s / j u d g e s . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Time i n t e r v a l (days) d a t a f o r c o u r t s of l a s t r e s o r t and i n t e r m e d i a t e a p p e l l a t e c o u r t s , 1978. Courts grouped by beginning event po in t . Beginning event t o b r i e f s f i l e d , t o argument o r submission, and t o d e c i s i o n announced. Argument or submission t o d e c i s i o n announced. Type of cases included and s t a t i s t i c type (mean or median) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . F i l e d cases f o r a p p e l l a t e c o u r t s , 1969-1978. Appel la te c o u r t s r e p o r t i n g f i v e o r more y e a r s of c a s e s f i l e d da ta . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Number and percent change i n f i l e d c a s e s year t o year and f o r 10-year per iod f o r a p p e l l a t e c o u r t s , 1969-1978. A p p e l l a t e c o u r t s r e p o r t i n g f i v e o r more y e a r s of c a s e s f i l e d da ta . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Reported n a t i o n a l case load ( c i v i l , c r i m i n a l , t r a f f i c , j u v e n i l e , and t o t a l ) i n g e n e r a l j u r i s d i c t i o n , l i m i t e d j u r i s d i c t i o n , and a l l t r i a l c o u r t s , 1978. Est imated c i v i l , c r i m i n a l , j u v e n i l e , t r a f f i c , and t o t a l c a s e s f i l e d and d isposed i n a l l t r i a l c o u r t s . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Reported g e n e r a l j u r i s d i c t i o n case load , 1978. C i v i l , c r i m i n a l , t r a f f i c , j u v e n i l e , and t o t a l c a s e s , wi th s ta te popula t ion and number of judges . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Reported l i m i t e d j u r i s d i c t i o n case load , 1978. C i v i l , c r i m i n a l , t r a f f i c , j u v e n i l e , and t o t a l c a s e s , wi th s ta te popula t ion and number o f judges . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . T o t a l case load f o r g e n e r a l j u r i s d i c t i o n , l i m i t e d j u r i s d i c t i o n , and a l l t r i a l c o u r t s , 1978. S t a t e populat ion. Disposed and end pending a s a percent of f i l e d . Number and percent change i n pending . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . C i v i l case load f o r g e n e r a l j u r i s d i c t i o n , l i m i t e d j u r i s d i c t i o n , and a l l t r i a l c o u r t s , 1978. S t a t e populat ion. Disposed and end pending a s a percent of f i l e d . Number and percent change i n pending . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Composition of c i v i l c a s e f i l i n g s i n genera l j u r i s d i c t i o n c o u r t s , 1978. S t a t e and c o u r t . C i v i l c a s e c a t e g o r i e s . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Composition of c i v i l c a s e d i s p o s i t i o n s i n g e n e r a l j u r i s d i c t i o n c o u r t s , 1978. S t a t e and c o u r t . C i v i l c a s e c a t e g o r i e s . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . T o r t case load f o r t r i a l c o u r t s , 1978. S t a t e popula t ion . Cour ts r e p o r t i n g t o r t ( a u t o t o r t , p r o f e s s i o n a l t o r t , product l i a b i l i t y t o r t , and o t h e r t o r t ) caseload. Disposed and end pending as a percent of f i l e d . Number and p e r c e n t change i n pending. F i l e d per 100,000 popula t ion . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Contract case load f o r t r i a l c o u r t s , 1978. S t a t e populat ion. Cour ts r e p o r t i n g c o n t r a c t caseload. Disposed and end pending a s a p e r c e n t of f i l e d . Number and percent change i n pending. F i l e d p e r 100,000 popula t ion . . . Small c la ims case load f o r t r i a l c o u r t s , 1978. S t a t e populat ion. Courts r e p o r t i n g small c la ims caseload. Disposed and end pending a s a p e r c e n t of f i l e d . Number and percent change i n pending. F i l e d per 100,000 p o p u l a t i o n . . .

Disposed and end pending as a percent of f i l e d .

Disposed and end pending as a p e r c e n t of f i l e d . Number and p e r c e n t

Disposed and end pending as a percent of f i l e d . Number and p e r c e n t

Number and p e r c e n t of c a s e s disposed by opin ion ,

22

23

24

25

26

28

30

34

35

36

38

40

44

52

56

60

62

64

65

66

Table 24:

Table 25:

Table 26:

Table 27:

Table 28:

Table 29:

Table 30:

Table 31:

Table 32:

Table 33:

Table 34:

Table 35:

Table 36:

Table 37:

Table 38:

Table 39:

Table 40:

Table 41:

R e a l p rope r ty r i g h t s case load f o r t r i a l c o u r t s , 1978. S t a t e populat ion. pending a s a percent of f i l e d . popu la t ion . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 67

Courts r e p o r t i n g real p rope r ty r i g h t s caseload. Disposed and end Number and pe rcen t change i n pending. F i l e d p e r 100,000

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Domestic r e l a t i o n s caseload f o r t r i a l c o u r t s , 1978. S t a t e populat ion. Courts r e p o r t i n g domestic r e l a t i o n s caseload. Disposed and end pending a s a pe rcen t of f i l e d . 100,000 popu la t ion . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 68 Estate case load f o r t r i a l c o u r t s , 1978. S t a t e populat ion. pe rcen t of f i l e d . Number and pe rcen t change i n pending. F i l e d pe r 100,000 popu la t ion . . . 70 Mental h e a l t h caseload for’ t r i a l c o u r t s , 1978. S t a t e populat ion. a pe rcen t of f i l e d . Number and pe rcen t change i n pending. F i l e d pe r 100,000 popu la t ion . . 71 C i v i l appea l s caseload f o r t r i a l c o u r t s , 1978. S t a t e populat ion. pe rcen t of f i l e d . Number and pe rcen t change i n pending. F i l e d pe r 100,000 popu la t ion . . . 72 C i v i l j u r y and non-jury t r i a l d i s p o s i t i o n s by c a s e type , 1978. S t a t e and cour t . C i v i l ca se types. Ju ry t r i a l d e f i n i t i o n . D i s p o s i t i o n s pe r c a s e type , number of t r i a l s , t r i a l s a s a pe rcen t of d i s p o s i t i o n s , number of j u r y t r i a l s , j u r y t r i a l s as a pe rcen t of d i s p o s i t i o n s and of t r i a l s . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 73 Criminal caseload i n gene ra l j u r i s d i c t i o n , l i m i t e d j u r i s d i c t i o n , and a l l t r i a l c o u r t s , 1978. S t a t e a d u l t popu la t ion w i t h i n u n i t of count groupings. pe rcen t of f i l e d . Number and pe rcen t change i n pending . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 78 Composition of c r i m i n a l ca se f i l i n g s i n gene ra l j u r i s d i c t o n c o u r t s , 1978. S t a t e and cour t . Criminal c a s e c a t e g o r i e s . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 81 Composition of c r i m i n a l ca se d i s p o s i t i o n s i n gene ra l j u r i s d i c t i o n c o u r t s , 1978. S t a t e and cour t . Criminal c a s e c a t e g o r i e s . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 83 Felony caseload f o r gene ra l j u r i s d i c t i o n c o u r t s , 1978. S t a t e a d u l t popu la t ion w i t h i n u n i t of count groupings. Disposed and end pending as a percent of f i l e d . Number and pe rcen t change i n pending. F i l e d pe r 100,000 a d u l t popu la t ion . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 85 Misdemeanor case load f o r t r i a l c o u r t s , 1978. S t a t e a d u l t popu la t ion w i t h i n u n i t of count groupings. caseload. Disposed and end pending as a pe rcen t of f i l e d . Number and pe rcen t change i n pending. F i l e d pe r 100,000 a d u l t popu la t ion . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 86 Combined felony and misdemeanor case load , 1978. S t a t e a d u l t popu la t ion w i t h i n u n i t of count groupings. misdemeanor, o r felony/misdemeanor caseload. of f i l e d . Number and pe rcen t change i n pending. F i l e d pe r 100,000 a d u l t popu la t ion . . . . 89 Ordinance v i o l a t i o n caseload f o r t r i a l c o u r t s , 1978. S t a t e popu la t ion w i t h i n u n i t of count groupings. caseload. Disposed and end pending as a pe rcen t of f i l e d . Number and pe rcen t change i n pending. F i l e d pe r 100,000 a d u l t popu la t ion . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 92 P re l imina ry hea r ing caseload f o r t r i a l c o u r t s , 1978. S t a t e a d u l t popu la t ion w i t h i n u n i t of count groupings. p re l imina ry caseload. change i n pending. F i l e d p e r 100,000 a d u l t popu la t ion . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 93 Criminal appeals caseload f o r t r i a l c o u r t s , 1978. S t a t e a d u l t popu la t ion w i t h i n u n i t of count groupings. caseload. Disposed and end pending as a pe rcen t of f i l e d . Number and pe rcen t change i n pending. F i l e d pe r 100,000 a d u l t popu la t ion . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 94 Criminal d i s p o s i t i o n types f o r t r i a l c o u r t s , 1978. S t a t e a d u l t populat ion w i t h i n u n i t of count groupings. Courts r e p o r t i n g c r imina l d i s p o s i t i o n types. P l e a s , t o t a l conv ic t ions , t r i a l c o n v i c t i o n s , a c q u i t t e d , n o l l e p rosequ i , and dismissed. Each d i s p o s i t i o n type a s a pe rcen t of c r i m i n a l d i s p o s i t i o n s . . . 96 Criminal j u r y and non-jury t r i a l d i s p o s i t i o n s by c a s e type, 1978. S t a t e and cour t . Criminal ca se types. Ju ry t r i a l d e f i n i t i o n . D i s p o s i t i o n s per case type , number of t r i a l s , t r i a l s as a pe rcen t of d i s p o s i t i o n s , number of j u r y t r i a l s , j u r y t r i a l s a s a pe rcen t of d i s p o s i t i o n s and of t r i a l s . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 98 T r a f f i c caseload i n gene ra l j u r i s d i c t i o n , l i m i t e d j u r i s d i c t i o n , and a l l t r i a l c o u r t s , 1978. S t a t e populat ion. Disposed and end pending a s a pe rcen t of f i l e d . Number and pe rcen t change i n pending . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 102

Number and pe rcen t change i n pending. F i l e d per

Courts r e p o r t i n g e s t a t e caseload. Disposed and end pending as a

Courts r e p o r t i n g mental h e a l t h caseload. Disposed and end pending as

Courts r e p o r t i n g c i v i l appea l s caseload. Disposed and end pending a s a

Disposed and end pending a s a

Courts r e p o r t i n g felony caseload.

Courts r e p o r t i n g misdemeanor

Courts r e p o r t i n g f e lony , Disposed and end pending as a pe rcen t

Courts r e p o r t i n g ordinance v i o l a t i o n s

Courts r e p o r t i n g felony Disposed and end pending as a pe rcen t of f i l e d . Number and pe rcen t

Courts r e p o r t i n g c r imina l appea l s

X

Table 42:

Table 43:

Table 44:

Table 45:

Table 46:

Table 47:

Table 48:

Table 49:

Table 50:

Table 51:

Page D W I / D U I case load f o r t r i a l c o u r t s , 1978. S t a t e populat ion. p e r c e n t of f i l e d . Number and percent change i n pending. F i l e d p e r 100,000 p o p u l a t i o n . . . 104 Other t r a f f i c v i o l a t i o n s case load f o r t r i a l c o u r t s , 1978. S t a t e popula t ion . Courts r e p o r t i n g o t h e r t r a f f i c v i o l a t i o n s case load . Disposed and end pending a s a percent of f i l e d . Number and p e r c e n t change i n pending. F i l e d p e r 100,000 popula t ion e a - e . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 105 T r a f f i c d i s p o s i t i o n types f o r t r i a l c o u r t s , 1978. S t a t e populat ion. Cour ts r e p o r t i n g t r a f f i c d i s p o s i t i o n type da ta . P l e a s , v i o l a t i o n s bureau, b a i l o r bond f o r f e i t u r e s , t o t a l c o n v i c t i o n s , t r i a l c o n v i c t i o n s , a c q u i t t e d , n o l l e prosequi , and dismissed. Each d i s p o s i t i o n type as a percent of t r a f f i c d i s p o s i t i o n s a e e - . . . . . . . . . - . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 107 T r a f f i c j u r y and non-jury t r i a l d i s p o s i t i o n s , 1978. S t a t e and c o u r t . Jury t r i a l d e f i n i t i o n . Number of d i s p o s i t i o n s and t r i a l s . Tr ia l s as a percent of d i s p o s i t i o n s . Numbers of j u r y t r i a l s , j u r y t r i a l s as a p e r c e n t of d i s p o s i t i o n s and t r i a l s . . . . . . . , . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 109 Juveni le case load f o r g e n e r a l j u r i s d i c t i o n , l i m i t e d j u r i s d i c t i o n , and a l l t r i a l c o u r t s , 1978. S t a t e j u v e n i l e populat ion. Disposed and end pending a s a percent o f f i l e d . Number and percent change i n pending . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 112 Criminal-type o f f e n s e case load f o r t r i a l c o u r t s , 1978. S t a t e j u v e n i l e populat ion. Courts r e p o r t i n g c r imina l - type case load . Disposed and end pending as a percent of f i l e d . Number and p e r c e n t change i n pending. F i l e d p e r 100,000 j u v e n i l e popula t ion . - a . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 114 S t a t u s o f f e n s e case load f o r t r i a l c o u r t s , 1978. State j u v e n i l e populat ion. Courts r e p o r t i n g s t a t u s o f f e n s e s case load . Disposed and end pending as a percent of f i l e d . Number and percent change i n pending. F i l e d p e r 100,000 j u v e n i l e p o p u l a t i o n . . . * e 115 Non-offense case load f o r t r i a l c o u r t s , 1978. S t a t e j u v e n i l e populat ion. Courts r e p o r t i n g non-offense caseload. Disposed and end pending a s a percent of f i l e d . Number and p e r c e n t change i n pending. F i l e d p e r 100,000 j u v e n i l e popula t ion . . e . . . . - . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . -. . . . . . . . 116 F i l e d c a s e s ( t o t a l , c i v i l , c r i m i n a l , and j u v e n i l e c a s e s ) € o r t r i a l c o u r t s , 1968-1978. T r i a l c o u r t s r e p o r t i n g f i v e o r more y e a r s of c a s e s f i l e d d a t a . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 1 7 Number and percent change i n f i l e d c a s e s ( t o t a l , c i v i l , c r i m i n a l , and j u v e n i l e c a s e s ) year t o year and f o r 10-year per iod f o r t r i a l c o u r t s , 1969-1978. T r i a l c o u r t s r e p o r t i n g f i v e o r more y e a r s of cases f i l e d d a t a e e * a . . a . e 120

Cour ts r e p o r t i n g D W I / D U I caseload. Disposed and end pending as a

tate Court Statistical Profilles Pro t o type

S t a t e Court System, 1978 a e a - e - Court of l as t r e s o r t o r in te rmedia te

a p p e l l a t e c o u r t + e a a * a a e Court of g e n e r a l , l i m i t e d , o r s p e c i a l

j u r i s d i c t i o n . e e a a e e e e .

A lab ama Alabama Court System, 1978 a . a . . Alabama Supreme Court--court of l a s t r e s o r t . Alabama Court of C i v i l Appeals--intermediate

a p p e l l a t e c o u r t (I e - . a - e . - Alabama Court of Criminal Appeals--

i n t e r m e d i a t e a p p e l l a t e cour t . - . * . - Alabama C i r c u i t Court--court of genera l

j u r i s d i c t i o n . a a a - . . a . . Alabama D i s t r i c t Court--court of l i m i t e d

j u r i s d i c t i o n . a e a a . . . . . Alabama Probate Court--court of l i m i t e d

j u r i s d i c t i o n . . . . e . . . . . . . . . Alabama Municipal Court--court of l i m i t e d

j u r i s d i c t i o n . . . . a . . . . . . . . Alaska

Alaska Court System, 1978. - . . . . . . . . Alaska Supreme Court--court of l a s t r e s o r t .

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132 133

134

135

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137

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137

138 139

Alaska S u p e r i o r Court--court of g e n e r a l

Alaska D i s t r i c t Court--court of l i m i t e d

Alaska M a g i s t r a t e s Court--court of l i m i t e d

j u r i s d i c t i o n . . . e . . e . . . . . e . . j u r i s d i c t i o n . . . . . . . . . . j u r i s d i c t i o n . . . . . . . . . . . . . . e

Arizona Arizona Court System, 1978 . . . . . . a Arizona Supreme Court--court of l a s t r e s o r t . Arizona Court of Appeals--intermediate

a p p e l l a t e c o u r t . . . - . . . . . . . . Arizona S u p e r i o r Court--court of g e n e r a l

j u r i s d i c t i o n . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. Arizona J u s t i c e s of t h e Peace--court of

l i m i t e d j u r i s d i c t i o n . . . . . . . . . . . . Arizona Municipal Court--court of l i m i t e d

j u r i s d i c t i o n . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Arkansas Supreme Court--court las t r e s o r t . . . . . . . .

Arkansas C i r c u i t Court--court j u r i s d i c t i o n . . . . . . . .

Arkansas Chancery and Probate --court of g e n e r a l j u r i s d i c t

Arkansas Arkansas Court System. 1978. . . . . . . , .

of

of g e n e r a l . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Court o n . . . . . .

140

142

143

144 145

146

146

14 7

148

150

151

152

153

Page Arkansas Court of Common Pleas--court of limited jurisdiction. . . . . . . . . . . . 153

Arkansas County Court--court of limited jurisdiction. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 154

Arkansas Municipal Court--court of limited jurisdiction. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 154

Arkansas City Court, Police Court, and Justice ofthe Peace Court--courts of limited jurisdiction. . . . . . . . . . . . 155

California California Court System, 1978. . . . . . . . 156 California Supreme Court--court of last resort . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 157

California Courts of Appeal--intermediate appellate court . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 158

California Superior Court--court of general jurisdiction. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 159

California Justice Court--court of limited jurisdiction. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 160

California Municipal Court--court of limited jurisdiction. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 162

Xi

Colorado Colorado Court System, 1978. . . . . . . . . 163 Colorado Supreme Court--court of last resort 164 Colorado Court of Appeals--intermediate appellate court . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 165 Colorado District Court, Denver Superior Court, Denver Juvenile Court, and Denver Probate Court--court of general jurisdiction. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 165 jurisdiction. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 167 jurisdiction. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 168 jurisdiction. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 168

Colorado Water Court--court of general

Colorado County Court--court of limited

Colorado Municipal Court--court of limited

Connecticut Connecticut Court System, 1978 . . . . . . . 169 Connecticut Supreme Court--court of last resort. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 170

Connecticut Superior Court--court of general jurisdiction. . . . . . . . . . . . 171

Connecticut Court of Common Pleas--court of limited jurisdiction. . . . . . . . . . . . 172

Connecticut Probate Court--court of limited jurisdiction. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 173 Connecticut Juvenile Court--court of limited jurisdiction. . . . . . . . . . . . 173

Delaware Delaware Court System, 1978. . . . . . . . . 174 Delaware Supreme Court--court of last resort . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 175

Delaware Court of Chancery--court of general jurisdiction. . . . . . . . . . . . 175 Delaware Superior Court--court of general jurisdiction. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 176

Delaware Court of Common Pleas--court of limited jurisdiction. . . . . . . . . . . . 177

Delaware Family Court--court of limited jurisdiction. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 178

Municipal Court of Wilmington, Delaware-- court of limited jurisdiction . . . . . . . 179

Delaware Justice of the Peace Court--court of limited jurisdiction . . . . . . . . . . 179

Delaware Alderman's Court--court of limited jurisdiction. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 180

District of Columbia District of Columbia Court System, 1978. . . District of Columbia Court of Appeals-- court of last resort. . . . . . . . . . . .

District of Columbia Superior Court--court of general jurisdiction . . . . . . . . . .

Florida Florida Court System, 1978 . . . . . . . . . Florida Supreme Court--court of last resort. Florida District Courts of Appeal-- intermediate appellate court. . . . . . . .

Florida Circuit Court--court of general jurisdiction. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Florida County Court--court of limited jurisdiction. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Georgia Georgia Court System, 1978 . . . . . . . . . Georgia Supreme Court--court of last resort. Georgia Court of Appeals--intermediate appellate court . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Georgia Superior Court--court of general jurisdiction. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Georgia State Court and County Court-- courts of limited jurisdiction. . . . . . .

Georgia Probate Court--court of limited

Georgia Juvenile Court--court of limited

Georgia Municipal Court--court of limited

Georgia Civil Court--court of limited

Georgia Small Claims Court--court of

Georgia Magistrate's Court--court of

Georgia Justice of the Peace Court--court

Georgia Recorder's Court, Mayor's Court,

jurisdiction. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . jurisdiction. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . jurisdiction. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . jurisdiction. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . limited jurisdiction. . . . . . . . . . . . limited jurisdiction. . . . . . . . . . . . of limited jurisdiction . . . . . . . . . . Municipal Court, City Council -Court, Police Court, and Criminal Court--courts of limited jurisdiction . . . . . . . . . .

Guam Guam Court System, 1978 . . . . . . . . . . Superior Court--Court of general jurisdiction. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Hawaii Hawaii Court System, 1978. . . . . . . . . . Hawaii Supreme Court--court of last resort . Hawaii Circuit Court--court of general jurisdiction. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Hawaii Land Court--court of general jurisdiction. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Hawaii Tax Appeal Court--court of general jurisdiction. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Hawaii District Court--court of limited jurisdiction. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Idaho Idaho Court System, 1978 . . . . . . . . . . Idaho Supreme Court--court of last resort. . Idaho District Court--court of general jurisdiction. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Idaho Magistrates Division of District Court--court of general jurisdiction. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

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2 04

205 206

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xii

Page I1 1 inois Illinois Court System, 1978. . . . . . . . . 211 Illinois Supreme Court--court of last resort . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 212 Illinois Appellate Court--intermediate appellate court . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 213 Illinois Circuit Court--court of general jurisdiction. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 214

Indiana Indiana Court System, 1978 . . . . . . . . . 216 Indiana Supreme Court--court of last resort. 217 Indiana Court of Appeals--intermediate appellate court . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 218 Indiana Superior Court and Circuit Court-- courtof general jurisdiction. . Criminal Court of Marion County, court of general jurisdiction . Indiana County Court--court of 1 jurisdiction. . . . . . . . . .

Indiana Probate Court--court of jurisdiction. . . . . . . . . .

Municipal Court of Marion County court of limited jurisdiction . Juvenile Court of Marion County, court of limited jurisdiction .

. . . . . . 218 Indiana-- . . . . . . 220 mited . . . . . . 220 imited . . . . . . 221 . . . . . . 222 Indiana-- . . . . . . 223

Indiana--

Indiana City Court--court of limited

Indiana Town Court--court of limited

Small Claims Court of Marion County,

jurisdiction. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 223 jurisdiction. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 223 Indiana--court of limited jurisdiction. . . 223

Iowa Iowa Court System, 1978. . . . . . . . . . . 224 Iowa Supreme Court--court of last resort . . 225 Iowa Court of Appeals--intermediate appellate court . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 227 Iowa District Court--court of general jurisdiction. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 228

Kansas Kansas Court System, 1978. . . . . . . . . . 230 Kansas Supreme Court--court of last resort . 231 Kansas Court of Appeals--intermediate appellate court . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 233

Kansas District Court--court of general jurisdiction. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 234

Kansas Hunicipal Court--court of limited jurisdiction. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 235

Kentucky Kentucky Court System, 1978. . . . . . . . . 236 Kentucky Supreme Court--court of last resort . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 237

Kentucky Court of Appeals--intermediate appellate court . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 238

Kentucky Circuit Court--court of general jurisdiction. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 239

Kentucky District Court--court of limited jurisdiction. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 240

Louisiana Louisiana Court System, 1978 . . . . . . . . 241 Louisiana Supreme Court--court of last resort . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 242

Louisiana Courts of Appeal--intermediate appellate court . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 243 Louisiana District Court--court of general jurisdiction. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 244

Louisiana Family Court and Juvenile Court-- courts of limited jurisdiction. . . . . . . 244

Louisiana City Court, Parish Court, Municipal Court and Traffic Court of New Orleans--courts of limited jurisdiction. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Louisiana Justice of the Peace Court--

Louisiana Mayor's Court--court of limited court of limited jurisdiction . . . . . . . jurisdiction. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Maine Maine Court System, 1978 . . . . . . . . . . Maine Supreme Judicial Court--court of last resort . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Maine Superior Court--court of general

Maine District Court--court of limited

Maine Administrative Court--court of

Maine Probate Court--court of limited

jurisdiction. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . jurisdiction. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . limited jurisdiction. . . . . . . . . . . . jurisdiction. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Maryland Maryland Court System, 1978. . . . . . . . . Maryland Court of Appeals--court of last resort . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Maryland Court of Special Appeals-- intermediate appellate court. . . . . . . .

Maryland Circuit Court--court of general jurisdiction. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Maryland District Court--court of limited jurisdiction. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Maryland Orphan's Court--court of limited jurisdiction. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Massachusetts Massachusetts Court System, 1978 . . . . . . Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court-- court of last resort. . . . . . . . . . . .

Massachusetts Appeals Court--intermediate appellate court . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Massachusetts Superior Court--court of general jurisdiction. . . . . . . . . . . .

Massachusetts Probate Court --court of limited jurisdiction. . . . . . . . . . . .

Massachusetts District Court--court of limited jurisdiction. . . . . . . . . . . .

Massachusetts Land Court--court of limited jurisdiction. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Massachusetts Juvenile Court--court of limited jurisdiction. . . . . . . . . . . .

Massachusetts Housing Court--court of limited jurisdiction. . . . . . . . . . . .

Boston Municipal Court, Massachusetts-- court of limited jurisdiction . . . . . . .

Michigan Michigan Court System, 1978. . . . . . . . . Michigan Supreme Court--court of

Michigan Court of Appeals--intermediate

Michigan Circuit Court--court of general

Michigan Court of Claims--court of general

Recorder's Court of Detroit, Michigan--

Michigan District Court--court of limited

Michigan Municipal Court--court of limited

last resort . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . appellate court . . . . . . . . . . . . . . jurisdiction. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . jurisdiction. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . court of general jurisdiction . . . . . . . jurisdiction. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . jurisdiction. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Page

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2 60

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262

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xiii

Page Michigan Probate Court.. court of limited

Common Pleas Court of Detroit. Michigan.. jurisdiction . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 270 court of limited jurisdiction . . . . . . . . 271

Minnesota Minnesota Court System. 1978 . . . . . . . . 272 Minnesota Supreme Court.. court of last resort . .*. . . . . . . . . . . . . . 273

Minnesota District Court.. court of general iurisdiction . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 274

Minnesota County Court.. court of limited jurisdiction . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 275

Minnesota County Municipal Court.. court of limited jurisdiction . . . . . . . . . . . . 277

Minnesota Conciliation Court.. court of limited jurisdiction . . . . . . . . . . . . 277

Minnesota Probate Court.. court of limited jurisdiction . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 277

Mississippi Mississippi Court System. 1978 . . . . . . . Mississippi Supreme Court.. court of last resort . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Mississippi Circuit Court.. court of general jurisdiction . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Mississippi Chancery Court.. court of general jurisdiction . . . . . . . . . . . .

Mississippi County Court.. court of limited jurisdiction . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Mississippi Justice Court.. court of limited jurisdiction . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Mississippi Family Court.. court of limited jurisdiction . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Mississippi Municipal Court.. court of limited jurisdiction . . . . . . . . . . . .

Missouri Missouri Court System. 1978 . . . . . . . . Missouri Supreme Court.. Fourt of last resort . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Missouri Court of Appeals.. intermediate appellate court . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Missouri Circuit Court and Court of Common Pleas.. court of general jurisdiction . . . St . Louis Court of Criminal Correction, Missouri.. court of limited jurisdiction . Missouri Magistrate Court.. court of limited jurisdiction . . . . . . . . . . .

Missouri Probate Court.. court of limited jurisdiction . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Missouri Municipal Court.. court of limited jurisdiction . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

278

279

280

280

281

281

281

281

. 282

. 283

. 284

. 285

. 286

. 286

. 287

. 287 Montana Montana Court System. 1978 . . . . . . . . . 288 Montana Supreme Court.. court of last resort . 289 Montana District Court.. court of general jurisdiction . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 290

Montana Justice Court.. court of limited jurisdiction . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 291

Montana City Court.. court of limited jurisdiction . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 291

Montana Municipal Court.. court of limited jurisdiction . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 291

Nebraska Nebraska Court System, 1978 . . . . . . . . . 292 Nebraska Supreme Court.. court of last resort . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 293

Nebraska District Court.. court of general jurisdiction . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 294

Page Nebraska County Court.. court of liyited

Nebraska Municipal Court.. court of limited

Nebraska Separate Juvenile Court.. court of

Nebraska Workmen's Compensation Court..

jurisdiction . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 295 jurisdiction . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 296 limited jurisdiction . . . . . . . . . . . . 296 court of limited jurisdiction . . . . . . . 297

Nevada Nevada Court System. 1978 . . . . . . . . . . 298 Nevada Supreme Court.. court of last resort . 299 Nevada District Court.. court of general jurisdiction . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 300

Nevada Justice Court.. court of limited jurisdiction . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 300

Nevada Municipal Court.. court of limited jurisdiction . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 300

New Hampshire New Hampshire Court System, 1978 . . . . . . 301 New Hampshire Supreme Court.. court of last

New Hampshire Superior Court.. court of

New Hampshire District Court.. court of

New Hampshire Probate Court.. court of

New Hampshire Municipal Court.. court of

resort . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 302 general jurisdiction . . . . . . . . . . . . 303 limited jurisdiction . . . . . . . . . . . . 304 limited jurisdiction . . . . . . . . . . . . 305 limited jurisdiction . . . . . . . . . . . . 306

New Jersey New Jersey Court System. 1978 . . . . . . . . New Jersey Supreme Court.. court of last resort . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

New Jersey Appellate Division of Superior Court.. intermediate appellate court . . . .

New Jersey Superior Court (Law Division and Chancery Division) and County Court.. court of general jurisdiction . . . . . . .

New Jersey County District Court.. court of limited jurisdiction . . . . . . . . . . . .

New Jersey Juvenile and Domestic Relations Court.. court of limited jurisdiction . . . .

New Jersey Municipal Court.. court of limited jurisdiction . . . . . . . . . . . .

New Jersey Surrogates . . . . . . . . . . . . New Mexico New Mexico Court System, 1978 . . . . . . . . New Mexico Supreme Court.. court of last resort . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

New Mexico Court of Appeals.. intermediate appellate court . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

New Mexico District Court.. court of general jurisdiction . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

New Mexico Magistrate Court.. court of limited jurisdiction . . . . . . . . . . . .

New Mexico Probate Court.. court of limited jurisdiction . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

New Mexico Municipal Court.. court of

Small Claims Court of Albuquerque, limited jurisdiction . . . . . . . . . . . . ' New Mexico.. court of limited jurisdiction .

307

308

309

310

312

314

315 315

316

317

318

319

320

320

320

320

New York New York Court System. 1978 . . . . . . . . . 321 New York Court of Appeals.. court of

New York Appellate Divisions of the Supreme last resort . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 322 Court.. intermediate appellate court . . . . 323

xiv

N e w York Appel la te Terms of t h e Supreme

New York Supreme Court and County Court..

C i v i l Court of t h e C i ty of New York..

Criminal Court of t h e C i t y of New York..

New York Family Court.. c o u r t of l i m i t e d

New York D i s t r i c t Court and C i t y Court..

New York Sur roga te s ' Court.. c o u r t of

New York Court of Claims.. c o u r t of l i m i t e d

New York Town and V i l l a g e Court.. c o u r t of

Court.. i n t e rmed ia t e a p p e l l a t e c o u r t . . . . c o u r t s of gene ra l j u r i s d i c t i o n . . . . . . . c o u r t of l i m i t e d i u r i s d i c t i o n . . . . . . . c o u r t of l i m i t e d j u r i s d i c t i o n . . . . . . . j u r i s d i c t i o n . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . c o u r t s of l i m i t e d j u r i s d i c t i o n . . . . . . . l i m i t e d j u r i s d i c t i o n . . . . . . . . . . . . j u r i s d i c t i o n . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . l imi t ed j u r i s d i c t i o n . . . . . . . . . . . .

North Caro l ina North Caro l ina Court System. 1978 . . . . . . North Caro l ina Supreme Court.. c o u r t of l a s t

North Caro l ina Court of Appeals..

North Caro l ina Supe r io r Court.. c o u r t of

North Caro l ina D i s t r i c t Court.. c o u r t of

r e s o r t . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . i n t e rmed ia t e a p p e l l a t e c o u r t . . . . . . . . gene ra l j u r i s d i c t i o n . . . . . . . . . . . . l i m i t e d j u r i s d i c t i o n . . . . . . . . . . . .

North Dakota Court System. 1978 . . . . . . . North Dakota North Dakota Supreme Court.. c o u r t of l a s t

North Dakota D i s t r i c t Court.. c o u r t of

North Dakota County P roba te Court.. cou r t of l imi t ed j u r i s d i c t i o n . . . . . . . . . . . .

North Dakota County Court w i th Inc reased Jurisdiction.. c o u r t of

r e s o r t . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . gene ra l j u r i s d i c t i o n . . . . . . . . . . . .

l imi t ed j u r i s d i c t i o n . . . . . . . . . . . . l imi t ed j u r i s d i c t i o n . . . . . . . . . . . . North Dakota County J u s t i c e Court.. cou r t of

North Dakota Municipal Court.. c o u r t of l imi t ed j u r i s d i c t i o n . . . . . . . . . . . .

Ohio Ohio Court System. 1978 . . . . . . . . . . . Ohio Supreme Court.. c o u r t of l a s t r e s o r t . . Ohio Court o f Appeals.. i n t e rmed ia t e

a p p e l l a t e c o u r t . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Ohio Court of Common Pleas.. c o u r t of

g e n e r a l j u r i s d i c t i o n . . . . . . . . . . . . Ohio County Court.. c o u r t of l i m i t e d

Ohio Court o f Claims.. cou r t of l i m i t e d

Ohio Municipal Court.. c o u r t o f l i m i t e d

Ohio Mayors' Court.. c o u r t of l i m i t e d

j u r i s d i c t i o n . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . j u r i s d i c t i o n . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . j u r i s d i c t i o n . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . j u r i s d i c t i o n . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Oklahoma Court System, 1978 . . . . . . . . . Oklahoma Oklahoma Supreme Court.. c o u r t of

Oklahoma Court of Criminal Appeals..

Oklahoma Court of Appeals.. i n t e rmed ia t e

Oklahoma D i s t r i c t Court.. c o u r t of gene ra l

l a s t r e s o r t . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . c o u r t o f l a s t r e s o r t . . . . . . . . . . . . a p p e l l a t e c o u r t . . . . . . . . . . . . . . j u r i s d i c t i o n . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

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335

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338

339

340

34 1

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342

343 344

345

345

347

348

349

350

351

352

353

354

355

Oklahoma Worker 's Compensation Court..

Oklahoma Court of Bank Review.. c o u r t of

Oklahoma Court of Tax Review.. c o u r t of

Oklahoma Municipal Criminal Court of

Oklahoma Municipal Court Not of Record..

c o u r t o f l i m i t e d j u r i s d i c t i o n . . . . . . . l i m i t e d j u r i s d i c t i o n . . . . . . . . . . . . l i m i t e d j u r i s d i c t i o n . . . . . . . . . . . . Record.. c o u r t of l i m i t e d j u r i s d i c t i o n . . . c o u r t of l i m i t e d j u r i s d i c t i o n . . . . . . .

Oregon Oregon Court System. 1978 . . . . . . . . . . Oregon Supreme Court-court of l a s t r e s o r t . Oregon Court of Appeals.. i n t e rmed ia t e

a p p e l l a t e c o u r t . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Oregon C i r c u i t Court.. c o u r t of g e n e r a l

j u r i s d i c t i o n . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Oregon Tax Court.. c o u r t of

gene ra l j u r i s d i c t i o n . . . . . . . . . . . . Oregon D i s t r i c t Court.. c o u r t of l i m i t e d

j u r i s d i c t i o n . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Oregon County Court.. c o u r t of l i m i t e d

j u r i s d i c t i o n . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Oregon J u s t i c e Court.. c o u r t of l i m i t e d

j u r i s d i c t i o n . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Oregon Municipal court.. c o u r t of l i m i t e d

j u r i s d i c t i o n . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Pennsylvania

Pennsylvania Court System. 1978 . . . . . . . Pennsylvania Supreme Court.. c o u r t of l a s t

r e s o r t . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Pennsylvania Supe r io r Court.. i n t e rmed ia t e

a p p e l l a t e c o u r t . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Pennsylvania Commonwealth Court..

i n t e rmed ia t e a p p e l l a t e c o u r t . . . . . . . . Pennsylvania Court of Common Pleas.. c o u r t

of g e n e r a l j u r i s d i c t i o n . . . . . . . . . . P h i l a d e l p h i a Municipal Court , Pennsylvania..

c o u r t of l i m i t e d j u r i s d i c t i o n . . . . . . . P h i l a d e l p h i a T r a f f i c Court , Pennsylvania.-

c o u r t of l i m i t e d j u r i s d i c t i o n . . . . . . . Pennsylvania D i s t r i c t J u s t i c e Court.. c o u r t

of l i m i t e d j u r i s d i c t i o n . . . . . . . . . . P i t t s b u r g h C i ty M a g i s t r a t e s , Pennsylvania..

c o u r t of l i m i t e d j u r i s d i c t i o n . . . . . . . Puer to Rico

Pue r to Rico Court System. 1978 . . . . . . . Puer to Kico Supreme Court.. c o u r t of

l a s t r e s o r t . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Puer to Rico Supe r io r Court.. c o u r t of

gene ra l j u r i s d i c t i o n . . . . . . . . . . . . Puer to Rico D i s t r i c t Court.. c o u r t of

l i m i t e d j u r i s d i c t i o n . . . . . . . . . . . . Puer to Rico J u s t i c e s of t h e Peace.. c o u r t of

l i m i t e d j u r i s d i c t i o n . . . . . . . . . . . . Puer to Rico Municipal Court.. c o u r t of

l i m i t e d j u r i s d i c t i o n . . . . . . . . . . . . Rhode I s l a n d

Rhode I s l a n d Court System, 1978 . . . . . . . Rhode I s l a n d Supreme Court.. c o u r t of l as t

r e s o r t . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Rhode I s l a n d Supe r io r Court.. c o u r t of

gene ra l j u r i s d i c t i o n . . . . . . . . . . . . Rhode I s l a n d D i s t r i c t Court.. c o u r t of

l i m i t e d j u r i s d i c t i o n . . . . . . . . . . . . Rhode I s l a n d Family Court.. c o u r t of l i m i t e d

j u r i s d i c t i o n . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

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360

361

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377

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382

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limited jurisdiction. . . . . . . . . . . . 382 limited jurisdiction. . . . . . . . . . . . 382

Rhode Island Municipal Court--court of

Rhode Island Probate Court--court of

South Carolina South Carolina Court System, 1978. . . . . . 383 South Carolina Supreme Court--court of last r e s o r t . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 384 South Carolina Circuit Court--court of general jurisdiction. . . . . . . . . . . . 385

South Carolina County Court and Civil and Criminal Court--courts of limited jurisdiction. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 386 limited jurisdiction. . . . . . . . . . . . 387 limited jurisdiction. . . . . . . . . . . . 388 limited jurisdiction. . . . . . . . . . . . 388 limited jurisdiction. . . . . . . . . . . . 388

South Carolina Family Court--court of

South Carolina Magistrate Court--court of

South Carolina Probate Court--court of

South Carolina Municipal Court--court of

South Dakota South Dakota Court System, 1978. . . . . . . 389 resort. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 390 general jurisdiction. . . . . . . . . . . . 391

. South Dakota Supreme Court--court of last

South Dakota Circuit Court--court of

Tennessee Tennessee Court System, 1978 . . . . . . . . 392 Tennessee Supreme Court--court of last resort . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 393

Tennessee Court of Appeals--intermediate appellate court . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Tennessee Court of Criminal Appeals--inter- mediate appellate court . . . . . . . . . . Tennessee Circuit Court and Criminal Court-- courts of general jurisdiction. . . . . . .

Tennessee Law and Equity Court--court of general jurisdiction. . . . . . . . . . . .

Tennessee Chancery Court--court of general jurisdiction. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Tennessee General Sessions Court--court of limited jurisdiction. . . . . . . . . . . .

Tennessee Probate Court--court of limited

Tennessee County Court--court of limited

Tennessee Juvenile Court--court of limited

Tennessee Municipal Court--court of limited

Tennessee Justice of the Peace Court--court

jurisdiction. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . jurisdiction. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . jurisdiction. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . jurisdiction. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . of limited jurisdiction . . . . . . . . . .

3 94

395

396

398

399

400

40 1

401

40 1

401

401

Texas Texas Court System, 1978 . . . . . . . . . . 402 Texas Supreme Court--court of last resort. . 403 Texas Court of Criminal Appeals--court of last resort . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 404

Texas Courts of Civil Appeals--intermediate appellate court . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 405

Texas District Court and Criminal District Court--courts of general jurisdiction . . . 406 Texas County Court at Law, Constitutional County Court, and Probate Court--courts of limited jurisdiction. . . . . . . . . . . . 408 jurisdiction. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 409 limited jurisdiction. . . . . . . . . . . . 410

Texas Municipal Court--court of limited

Texas Justice of the Peace Court--court of

Page

Utah Court System, 1978. . . . . . . . . . . 411 Utah Supreme Court--court of last resort . . 412 Utah District Court--court of general jurisdiction. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 413

Utah City Court--court of limited jurisdiction . . . . . . . . . . . . 414

Utah Juvenile Court--court of limited jurisdiction. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 415

Utah Justice Court--court of limited jurisdiction. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 416

Utah

jurisdiction. . . . . . . . . . Vermont District Court--court of jurisdiction. . . . . . . . . .

Vermont Probate Court--court of jurisdiction. . . . . . . . . .

Virginia Virginia Court System, 1978. . . Virginia Supreme Court--court of last resort . . . . . . . . . .

Virginia Circuit Court--court of jurisdiction. . . . . . . . . .

Vermont Vermont Court System, 1978 . . . . . . . . . 417 Vermont Supreme Court--court of last resort. 418 Vermont Superior Court--court of general . . . . . . 419

general . . . . . . 420 imited . . . . . . 421

. . . . . . 422

. . . . . . 423 general . . . . . . 424

jurisdiction. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 425 Virginia District Court--court of limited

Washington Washington Court System, 1978. . . . . . . . 426 Washington Supreme Court--court of last resort . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 427

Washington Court of Appeals-intermediate appellate court . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 428

Washington Superior Court--court of general jurisdiction. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 429

Washington Municipal and Police Court-- court of limited jurisdiction . . . . . . . 430

Washington District Court and Justices of the Peace--courts of limited jurisdiction . 431

West Virginia West Virginia Court System, 1978 . . . . . . 432 West Virginia Supreme Court of Appeals-

West Virginia Circuit Court--court of

West Virginia Magistrate Court--court of

West Virginia Municipal Court--court of

court of last resort. . . . . . . . . . . . 433 general jurisdiction. . . . . . . . . . . . 434 limited jurisdiction. . . . . . . . . . . . 435 limited jurisdiction. . . . . . . . . . . . 435

Wisconsin Court System, 1978 . . . . . . . . 436 Wisconsin Wisconsin Supreme Court--court of

Wisconsin Circuit Court and County

Wisconsin Municipal Justice Court--court of

last resort . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 437 Court--courts of general jurisdiction . . . 438 limited jurisdiction. . . . . . . . . . . . 440

Wyoming Court System, 1978 . . . . . . . . . 441 Wyoming Wyoming Supreme Court--court of last resort. Wyoming District Court--court of general

Wyoming Justice Court--court of limited

Wyoming Municipal Court--court of limited

442

jurisdiction. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 443 jurisdiction. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 443 jurisdiction. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 443

Introduction

3

Introduction Nat iona l Cour t . S t a t i s t i c s P r o j e c t

The Annual Report series of s ta te c o u r t case- load s t a t i s t i c s i s t h e product of the c o n t i n u i n g c o o p e r a t i v e r e l a t i o n s h i p between t h e Conference of S t a t e Court Adminis t ra tors (COSCA) and t h e Nat iona l Center f o r S t a t e Courts (NCSC). F i n a n c i a l manage- ment, p r o j e c t management, and p r o j e c t s t a f f i n g re- s p o n s i b i l i t y a r e assumed by t h e Nat iona l Court S t a t i s t i c s P r o j e c t (NCSP) of t h e NCSC. COSCA, through i t s Court S t a t i s t i c s and Information Sys- t e m s Committee, provides g e n e r a l p o l i c y review, guidance, and c o n t r o l over a l l p r o j e c t a c t i v i t i e s .

The twin g o a l s of t h e Nat iona l Court S t a t i s t i c s P r o j e c t a r e t o c o l l e c t , compile , ana lyze , and d i s - L seminate s t a t e c o u r t case load s t a t i s t i c s and t o h e l p s t a t e s improve t h e q u a l i t y of the d a t a they r e p o r t by a s s i s t i n g them i n r e s o l v i n g t h e i r sta- t i s t i c a l problems. The Annual Report s e r i e s re- sponds d i r e c t l y t o t h e f i r s t goa l by compil ing a l l a v a i l a b l e s t a t e c o u r t case load d a t a from t h e 50 s t a t e s , t h e D i s t r i c t of Columbia, Guam, and Puer to Rico.

Methodology employed

These NCSP g o a l s r e q u i r e t h e c a r e f u l choosing of an annual r e p o r t s e r i e s methodology f o r assem- b l i n g t h e case load d a t a t h a t are a v a i l a b l e from each of t h e states.

Data s o u r c e s

The sources of d a t a f o r t h e t a b l e s presented i n t h i s series a r e publ ished annual r e p o r t s pro- vided by t h e s ta tes and unpubl ished s t a t i s t i c a l m a t e r i a l reques ted of and suppl ied by s ta te c o u r t a d m i n i s t r a t o r s and a p p e l l a t e c o u r t c l e r k s . (Ap- pendix A of t h i s r e p o r t i d e n t i f i e s t h e sources of d a t a from each s t a t e . )

I n a d d i t i o n t o a review of a l l publ ished and unpubl ished d a t a rece ived from the s ta tes , a s tudy was made of a l l a v a i l a b l e r e p o r t i n g forms and in- s t r u c t i o n s used by t h e s ta tes t o c o l l e c t caseload s t a t i s t i c s from t h e i r r e s p e c t i v e c o u r t s . Addi- t i o n a l r e l e v a n t in format ion was secured from ap- p r o p r i a t e personnel i n each s t a t e . A s t h e p r o j e c t p rogressed , te lephone c o n t a c t and follow-up cor- respondence were used t o c o l l e c t miss ing d a t a , confirm t h e accuracy of a v a i l a b l e d a t a , and d e t e r - mine t h e l e g a l j u r i s d i c t i o n of each c o u r t .

Each a d m i n i s t r a t i v e o f f i c e of t h e c o u r t s com- p l e t e d a check-off s h e e t t o i n d i c a t e t h e types of c a s e s handled by each cour t . Beyond t h i s , in fo- mat ion was c o l l e c t e d concerning t h e number of judges per c o u r t o r c o u r t system (from annual re- p o r t s , o f f i c e s of s ta te c o u r t a d m i n i s t r a t o r s , and a p p e l l a t e c l e r k s ) ; t h e s ta te popula t ion (based on

Bureau of t h e Census 1978 r e v i s e d e s t i m a t e s ) o t h e r 1978 demographic d a t a ( t a k e n from t h e S t a t i s t i c a l A b s t r a c t of t h e United S t a t e s : 19802); and s p e c i a l c h a r a c t e r i s t i c s regard ing s u b j e c t matter j u r i s d i c t i o n and c o u r t s t r u c t u r e . When e x p l a n a t i o n of a c o u r t ' s j u r i s d i c t i o n was not d i r e c t l y obta in- a b l e , avaklab le informat ion was used from t h e S t a t e Court Organiza t ion , 19803.

Scope of t h e r e p o r t

The f i r s t annual r e p o r t (1975) presented a v a i l a b l e case load d a t a f o r s ta te a p p e l l a t e c o u r t s and t r i a l c o u r t s of g e n e r a l j u r i s d i c t i o n , and f o r s e l e c t e d c a t e g o r i e s ( j u v e n i l e , domestic r e l a t i o n s , p roba te , and mental h e a l t h ) i n l i m i t e d j u r i s d i c t i o n c o u r t s . The second annual r e p o r t (1976) a g a i n presented a v a i l a b l e d a t a f o r a p p e l l a t e c o u r t s and c o u r t s of g e n e r a l j u r i s d i c t i o n , and a l s o included a l l a v a i l a b l e case load d a t a f o r a l l l i m i t e d j u r i s - d i c t i o n c o u r t s . A s d a t a from each c o u r t l e v e l be- come more complete, f u t u r e aggrega t ion of t r i a l c o u r t case loads should become more meaningful .

The 1976 r e p o r t was expanded t o i n c l u d e Puer to Rico. The a d d i t i o n of Puer to Rico t o t h e series was made p o s s i b l e through t r a n s l a t i o n a s s i s t a n c e provided by t h e Puer to Rico O f f i c e of Court Admin- i s t r a t i o n . Data from Guam were added f o r t h e 1977 c o u r t year . The scope of f u t u r e r e p o r t s w i l l be broadened t o i n c l u d e American Samoa and t h e V i r g i n I s l a n d s when t h e s e d a t a become a v a i l a b l e .

This r e p o r t r e f l e c t s c o u r t o r g a n i z a t i o n and j u r i s d i c t i o n as it e x i s t e d i n 1978, b u t t h e r e a d e r should keep i n mind t h a t c o u r t systems a r e n o t s t a t i c e n t i t i e s . For example, s i n c e 1977, Missour i has u n i f i e d i t s t r i a l c o u r t s , and Alaska, Hawaii, and Iowa have a l l added i n t e r m e d i a t e a p p e l l a t e c o u