In the 12-month period ending September 30, 2019, the number of cases filed in the Supreme Court increased compared to the 2017 Term, while the number of cases filed in the regional appellate courts decreased slightly compared to a year earlier. The number of cases filed in the district courts and bankruptcy courts increased, as did the number of cases activated in the pretrial services system. The number of persons under post-conviction supervision decreased slightly.

The Supreme Court of the United States

The total number of cases filed in the Supreme Court increased from 6,315 filings in the 2017 Term to 6,442 filings in the 2018 Term. The number of cases filed in the Court’s in forma pauperis docket increased five percent from 4,595 filings in the 2017 Term to 4,847 filings in the 2018 Term. The number of cases filed in the Court’s paid docket decreased seven percent from 1,720 filings in the 2017 Term to 1,595 filings in the 2018 Term. During the 2018 Term, 73 cases were argued and 69 were disposed of in 66 signed opinions, compared to 69 cases argued and 63 disposed of in 59 signed opinions in the 2017 Term. The Court also issued two per curiam decisions during the 2018 Term.

The Federal Courts of Appeals

In the regional courts of appeals, filings fell two percent to 48,486. Appeals involving pro se litigants, which amounted to 49 percent of filings, declined four percent. Total civil appeals decreased three percent. Reductions of three percent also occurred in appeals of administrative agency decisions and in bankruptcy appeals. Original proceedings dropped one percent. Criminal appeals rose two percent.

The Federal District Courts

Civil case filings in the U.S. district courts increased five percent to 297,877. Cases involving diversity of citizenship (i.e., disputes between citizens of different states) grew 18 percent as personal injury cases climbed 28 percent. Federal question cases (i.e., actions under the Constitution, laws, or treaties of the United States in which the United States is not a party) remained relatively stable, falling less than one percent. Cases with the United States as defendant also decreased less than one percent. Cases with the United States as plaintiff declined 14 percent, mainly because courts received fewer actions related to defaulted student loans.

The Bankruptcy Courts

Bankruptcy court filings grew by 3,299 cases (up less than one percent) to 776,674 as 44 of the 90 bankruptcy courts received more petitions. Consumer (i.e., nonbusiness) petitions went up less than one percent, and business petitions rose four percent. Petitions filed under chapter 7 and under chapter 11 grew one percent. Petitions filed under chapter 13 fell one percent.

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