Judicial Business of the United States Courts: 2010 Annual Report of the Director

摘要

For the fiscal year ending September 30, 2010, this report provides statistics on the work of the Federal Judiciary, compares data for this year to that for previous fiscal years, and offers available explanations for increases or decreases in caseloads. Separate sections of the report address the appellate, district, and bankruptcy courts; the probation and pretrial services system; and other components of the Federal Judiciary. Caseload totals for the major programs of the Federal Judiciary are provided in the table of judicial caseload indicators on page 14. Nearly all major areas of the Federal Judiciary had larger caseloads this year. Filings of bankruptcy petitions climbed 14 percent to nearly 1.6 million. In the U.S. district courts, total filings rose 2 percent to 361,323 as civil case filings increased 2 percent to 282,895 and criminal case filings grew 2 percent to 78,428. The number of persons under postconviction supervision rose 2.5 percent to 127,324. Cases opened in the pretrial services system increased 6 percent to 111,507. Only the U.S. courts of appeals experienced a reduced caseload this year with 55,992 filings, a decrease of 3 percent.