Opinion ID: 2427838
Heading Depth: 3
Heading Rank: 1

Heading: Current Caseload Status of the District of Arizona

Text: In FY 2009, the District of Arizona ranked first in the Ninth Circuit and third in the nation for criminal case filings. The national average of criminal felony filings per judgeship was 97 during FY 2009. During this same period, each Arizona district judge averaged 328 criminal felony filings, but in the Tucson Division, this number was 652 filings per judge. The picture becomes bleaker when one looks at the number of criminal defendants, not just the number of cases. In Arizona, there have been 6,922 criminal defendants (4,913 were in Tucson) during Calendar Year 2010, a 33.9% increase over the previous year. We incorporate by reference the numbers for FY 2008 through FY 2010 for felony case filings, felony defendant filings, felony case sentencings, and felony defendant sentencings as listed in Judge Roll's November 24, 2010, letter. See Tab A at pp. 3-4. Since Judge Roll's criminal caseload has now been distributed among the three active district judges in Tucson, their caseloads are even more staggering. As of January 31, 2011: Judge Collins had 972 criminal cases, and 1,218 criminal defendants; Judge Jorgenson had 1,005 criminal cases, and 1,222 criminal defendants; and Judge Bury had 963 criminal cases, and 1,182 criminal defendants. If filings continue at the same pace as the past 12 months, the active judges will receive an average of 1,548 criminal defendants In Calendar Year 2011. The District of Arizona's magistrate judges are overburdened as well. In FY 2009, its magistrate judges heard 20,952 petty offense casessecond highest in the nation, the first being the Southern District of Texas. Most of the petty offense cases were heard in Tucson (over 17,000). In addition, magistrate judges in Arizona heard 1,016 Class A misdemeanor cases second highest in the nation, out of a total of 8,700 such cases nationwide.
The District of Arizona is also experiencing inordinate pressure with its civil caseload. Three percent of civil cases filed in Phoenix, and 5.6% of the Tucson cases, have been pending over 3 years as of December 31, 2010, a total of 3.4% for the district. Of the motions filed in this district, 10.6% were pending over 6 months as of January 18, 2011. Because of the overwhelming caseload, in FY 2009, Arizona ranked an unenviable 54th in the nation and 6th in the circuit for time from filing to trial in civil cases, and 35th in the nation and 7th in the circuit in time to disposition. These percentages demonstrate the pressure of the civil caseload and motion docket at all times. Given that these numbers were generated when the District of Arizona had no vacancies, and now there are three vacancies with no nominees, the backlog will continue to grow. We note that Circuit Judge Tashima graciously volunteered to take on Judge Roll's civil docket, which will help the District of Arizona's overburdened district judges.
The District of Arizona has a large number of inmates on death row. Currently, there are 135 individuals on death row, virtually all of whom will file petitions for a writ of habeas corpus in the federal district court. These cases consume an enormous amount of judicial and staff resources. Within the Ninth Circuit, only California has a higher number of death row inmates. The District of Arizona has also had a large number of federal death penalty cases prosecuted; 13 cases involving 32 defendants eligible for the death penalty have been filed since 1999.
In FY 2009, Arizona carried a weighted caseload of 603, and an unweighted caseload of 860 cases per active district judge (which was third highest in the nation). In FY 2010, Arizona's weighted caseload was 653, ranking ninth highest in the nation (the unweighted caseload data is not yet available). The higher ranking districts include districts in other border states or districts with multi-district litigations (MDLs).