Bankruptcy, appellate case filings drop in fiscal 2011

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Caseloads at federal trial courts increased slightly during fiscal 2011, while the number of bankruptcy and appellate cases dropped, according to recently released data from the Administrative Office of the U.S. Courts.

According to the data, civil filings in U.S. District Courts increased 2 percent, up 6,357 cases to 289,252 in fiscal 2011, the 12-month period ending Sept. 30. That is the same percentage increase from the year before. The number of criminal cases in district court was largely unchanged, increasing by 12 cases to 78,440.

Bankruptcy filings fell 8 percent to 1,467,221, the first decline in filings since fiscal 2007, when filings fell dramatically after enactment of the Bankruptcy Abuse Prevention and Consumer Protection Act of 2005. The vast majority of bankruptcy courts – 87 of the 90 across the country – reported a decrease. Three districts saw dramatic decreases of 20 percent or more: the Western District of New York (down 20 percent), the Southern District of West Virginia (down 24 percent), and the District of Vermont (down 26 percent.)

Non-business bankruptcy filings dropped 8 percent while business petitions declined 14 percent.
Filings in federal appellate courts fell 1.5 percent to 55,126 in fiscal 2011. Criminal appeals dropped 5 percent to 12,198, a decrease largely caused because fewer prisoners sentenced for crack cocaine offenses sought reductions of their sentences. Appeals of administrative agency decisions decreased 3 percent to 7,550. Civil appeals were relatively steady, falling by 207 to 30,733.