Judges: what's behind the figures; big doesn't always mean slow
Article Abstract:
The district courts with the largest backlogs in the federal system have all moved fairly quickly in situations with either huge mass-disaster cases or neglect of vacant judgeships. US District Judges Thomas C. Platt and Raymond L. Acosta have the two largest backlogs, but have won praise for their work on the Pan Am Flight 103 bombing over Lockerbie, Scotland, and the fire at the San Juan Dupont Plaza Hotel, respectively, which account for nearly all their backlogs. Chief Judge Thomas K. Moore of St Thomas, VI, with the third largest backlog, took over after two multi-year vacancies left a huge backlog.
Publication Name: The National Law Journal
Subject: Law
ISSN: 0162-7325
Year: 1995
User Contributions:
Comment about this article or add new information about this topic:
The oldest cases: IBM, school desegregation cases have reached middle age
Article Abstract:
The ten oldest active cases on the federal district court docket typically involve some branch of government as either plaintiff or defendant, and otherwise cover the spectrum of possible topics. Filed in 1952, the antitrust case between IBM and the US government is the country's oldest. Second is a lawsuit involving the Hopi and Navajo tribes, sparked by poor partitioning in 1882 and 1934. Various school integration cases in Florida and Louisiana come next, filed from 1952 to 1965, while two suits in Guam over eminent domain and reconstruction began in 1966 and 1969.
Publication Name: The National Law Journal
Subject: Law
ISSN: 0162-7325
Year: 1995
User Contributions:
Comment about this article or add new information about this topic:
Those who bring up the rear are not necessarily slowpokes
Article Abstract:
Most of the federal district court judges with the oldest average backlogs have good reasons, and several have a reputation for quick, decisive action. Prisoner suits in Puerto Rico linked to reform of the prison system weigh down the docket of Juan M. Perez-Gimenez, with 94 cases averaging 13 years old. Judge Robert R. Merhige, Jr, of the Eastern District of Virginia has 86 cases averaging 9.2 years old, but nearly all are Dalkon Shield suits delayed by bankruptcy. US District Judge John Garrett Penn is patient but can take a long time to make decisions.
Publication Name: The National Law Journal
Subject: Law
ISSN: 0162-7325
Year: 1995
User Contributions:
Comment about this article or add new information about this topic:
- Abstracts: From outsider to insider; more firms are appointing women managing partners. New trend in general counsel in firms; experts warn conversations with in-house adviser may be discoverable
- Abstracts: This time around, the Eighth Circuit comes down with a reversal of Brown. Brown Group shows interplay between Subpart F and partnership provisions
- Abstracts: Female lawyers see bias in their arrests: cursing and culottes were unacceptable to authorities in Texas, Florida
- Abstracts: Directors must delegate with care - throwing one's hands up in the air and saying "oops conflict" is not good enough
- Abstracts: Judge hits feds in fraud appeal: doubts over prosecution theory result in bail for a former Cavath associate and others in Florida case