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.

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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.

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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.

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