Lynchburg Virginian. [volume] (Lynchburg [Va.]) 1829-185?, 1851-07-17
tate, was as follows

lS42 99S az 500
1913" 1161 T22 1l72
1874" ACT SOS SCI
lSi5 4" 476 522 SOC
1916 !" 45i 53S 49i
From this table tappcars, that in 1911,
when the number Of suits brought was TT,
the number decided was only ISL, and
the docket was increased &c cases. A
similar result occurred in 1912. In 1913,
there was very triAing rcduction-it was
not until 1874, when the number Of suits
brought sank to ACT, that any considera-
bic impression was made upon the docket.
1t is matter of interest to know what
| is the narimun, number of new suits that
may be brought, so that the standing dock
ct may undergo a reasonable reduction.
The result of the year Al is evidently
not fair 'cst-for in Of that year the
average number ofsuts brought was 467,
and the average number decided was but
SCI, but every one, al all familiar with the
proceedings ofcircuit courts, knows that so
great a number of causes could not be dis
posed of, if litigated. 1t is evident that
this large amount of business was nothing
more than the regular and uncontested
ending Of suits, brought during the great
commercial and monetary pressure Of the
years '4l-'42, and delayed by the filing Of
pleas merely dllatory. Upon these, the
rendering Of verdicts and judgments &C.
cupied but little Of the time of the courts
In the years '45-'46 and 40, 1--WE have
no abstracts for '47-'4S,) the bu siness OF
the courts had nearly shrunk within its
ordinary channels, and an examination Of
these years will afford pretty fair test of
the capacity ofthe present circuit courts,in
ordinary times, to despatch litigated bust
ness and reduce the dockets In these
three years, the average number of suits
brought was 453-the number pending
500, and the number decided 49i. So
that the docket was gained on, to the ex-
/ ttHt Vi Al Cdscs. nc ucuuCtOn is, lHdI
when an average OF $50 suits is brought
during the year, there will be an average
gain OF 30or 10 cases, and if as was then
the case, the average amount Of old cases
standing on the dockcts should be 500, it
would require 10 or Is years to clear it,
even though there should he no recurrence
of commercial revulsions-a conclusion
that cannot safely be relied on.
In this calculation, we havo confined
ourselves to the law docket. The chan
Gerry and criminal dockcts, did not, during
the years referred to, undergo the same
mutations and will be found to preserve
much average uniformity in their demands
upon the time and attention of the courts
1t would follow from this analysis Of the
business and capabilities of the courts,
that it would be injudicious, SO to arrange
the Circuits as to render it probable that
greater number than $50 or 500 suits
would be annually brought in each.
Now we understand that it is the pur-
pose of the Committee to whom the ar
rangcment Of the Circuits is submitted, to
reduce the number Of Judges from 90 to
| 90, and to allow, as we have stated, only
four Circuits to that portion Of Eastern
Virginia lying South ofJames River. In
the year 1919, regarded by the profession
as dull gear, affording less than a fair
average of business, the number OF suits,
brought in the counties lying South of the
James, and East Of the Blue Ridge, was
3145: this divided by 4-,he number Of
proposed Circuits, would give to each 7SG
cases, an amount of business which we
hesitate not TO say is much beyond the ca
pacities of the Courts
In addition to this gross inequality and
injustice to this Division Of the state, grow
ing out ofthe Circuit arrangement-le us
see what will be the effect of allowing
Eastern Virginia only four Of the Dis
trict Courts, provided for by the Judiciary
Bill. Taking the year 1919 as the basis
forcalculation, the number ofsuits brough
was in the Eastern Virginia 5769-in the
Valley 123S--in the Trans Allegheny
country 2l20-making total of sI27-
Of which 3l45suits,or mare than one third,
were brought on the South side Of james
River: so that the plan OF the select Com
rnittee would require one ftM Of the judi
cal force Of The state, to do more Man one
third Of the Judicial business of he state.
The four Circuit Judges of the South side
would have an average of 7S6 cases TO
dispose OF every year. while the s Circuit
Judges Of the Trans-Alleghany country
would have an average of only 302-and
The -FOUR IN the Valley, an average Of 500:
while the two District Courts of the South
side would have an amount of business
about equal TO the six, held in the Valley
and beyond the Allegheny.
Truly, our new master. Of the West are
notsiow or equivocal In thei use ofpower,
and if we are to Judge from this exhibition
they are about 10 make themselves the
earliest and amplast repCration, for the i'm
aginary evils they hare endured. We
canno: err in saying. that L the official
documents upon which he hayc relied, haze
IL Il