Arkansas General Jurisdiction Courts
COURTS OF GENERAL JURISDICTION
During 1994-95, the total caseload in the trial courts
continued a trend of many years of increase, growing by over 6%.
The combined filings of criminal, civil, chancery, juvenile and
probate cases rose to an all-time high
of 180,680. The increases
occurred in all categories of cases, with the largest increase
represented by criminal cases. It is interesting to note that
despite the fact that the number of trial judges in the state has
grown from 70 to 107 in the last ten years, the number of filings
per judge has actually risen from 1724 in 1985-86 to 1737 in 1994-
95.
Arkansas trial courts also terminated 169,679 cases in 1994-
95, a record high and an increase from 157,261 terminations in
1993-94. Despite the increase in terminations, the number of cases
pending rose to 152,695, an increase of some 7% over 1993-94.
This steady growth in caseload increase over the past several
years has produced some delay problems around the state. To deal
with the problem, the Judicial Council is studying the need for
additional trial judgeships in 1997. One recommendation has
already been approved for an additional judgeship in the 2nd
Judicial Circuit, which has the state's heaviest caseload per judge
in the state. Further requests for judgeships and/or redistricting
will be considered.
Chart of Filings by Circuit by Type
Return to Annual Report Table of Contents Page
Last updated on February 6, 1996.
Tim Holthoff, Jackie Wright (arsclib@arkansas.gov)