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The
Arkansas Courts of General Jurisdiction |
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During 1997-98, the total
caseload in the trial courts marked a departure of over ten years of steady increase by
declining slightly from the previous record set in 1996-97. While there was a substantial
increase in criminal filings and a slight increase in juvenile filings, circuit, chancery
and probate caseloads were all smaller than the previous year, with a marked decline in
chancery matters of almost 14%. The combined filings of criminal, civil, chancery,
juvenile and probate cases dropped from last year’s all-time high to 191,622 cases, a
decline of almost 2%. It is interesting to note that despite the fact that the number of
trial judges in the state has grown from 70 to 105 in the last ten years, the number of
filings per judge has actually risen from 1724 in 1985-86 to 1825 in 1997-98. |
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| Arkansas trial courts terminated
185,192 cases in 1997-98, a decrease from 189,722 terminations in 1996-97. With the
decrease in terminations, the number of cases pending rose to 172,237, an increase of
almost 4% over 1996-97. The steady growth in caseloads over the past several years has
produced continuing delay problems around the state. To deal with the problem, the
Judicial Council studied the need and made recommendations for three additional trial
judgeships in 1997. In response, the General Assembly approved each of these
recommendations and added three more judgeships. Beginning January 1, 1999, new positions
will be added in the 2nd, 4th, 7th, 8th, 11th West, and 19th Circuits. The General
Assembly also altered trial district lines and created three new judicial circuits by
splitting the 7th, 8th, and 19th Judicial Circuits. |
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30 Circuit Judges, 33 Chancery Judges,
43 Circuit/Chancery Judges = 106 Total Judges
* Judge also serves as Juvenile
Division Judge |
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Arkansas Supreme Court ~ Arkansas
Court of Appeals
~ Arkansas Courts of General Jurisdiction ~
~ Arkansas Limited Jurisdiction Courts ~ |
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