Opinion ID: 2427838
Heading Depth: 4
Heading Rank: 1

Heading: Criminal Docket

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.