Chief Justice Roberts Issues 2017 Year-End Report
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In the 12-month period ending September 30, 2017, the number of cases filed in the Supreme Court decreased. The number of cases filed in the regional appellate courts, the district courts, and bankruptcy courts also decreased.
The Supreme Court of the United States
The number of cases filed in the Court’s paid docket increased from 1,549 filings in the 2015 Term to 1,550 filings in the 2016 Term. During the 2016 Term, 71 cases were argued and 68 were disposed of in 61 signed opinions, compared to 82 cases argued and 70 disposed of in 62 signed opinions in the 2015 Term.
The Federal Courts of Appeals
In the regional courts of appeals, filings fell 16 percent to 50,506. Total civil appeals increased one percent. Criminal appeals fell 14 percent, appeals of administrative agency decisions decreased five percent, and bankruptcy appeals declined four percent.
The Federal District Courts
Civil case filings in the U.S. district courts fell eight percent to 267,769. Cases with the United States as defendant decreased 29 percent. That reduction returned filings to typical levels, following a spike in 2016 caused by post-Welch challenges to criminal sentences. Cases with the United States as plaintiff increased five percent because of actions related to foreclosures. Cases involving diversity of citizenship (i.e., disputes between citizens of different states) fell seven percent as personal property damage cases dropped 40 percent.
The Bankruptcy Courts
Bankruptcy petition filings decreased two percent to 790,830. Fewer petitions were filed in 56 of the 90 bankruptcy courts. Consumer petitions dropped two percent, and business petitions fell six percent. Filings of petitions declined two percent under Chapter 7 and five percent under Chapter 11. Filings under Chapter 13 remained relatively stable, decreasing one percent.
This year’s total for bankruptcy petitions is the lowest since 2007, which was the first full year after the Bankruptcy Abuse Prevention and Consumer Protection Act of 2005 took effect. From 2007 to 2010, bankruptcy filings rose steadily, but they have fallen in each of the last seven years.
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