Judicial Delay: Stark Reality of Vacant Benches ; in Federal Courts Nationwide, the Wait for a Typical Civil Trial Is Now Two Years

Warren Richey writer of The Christian Science Monitor, The Christian Science Monitor

With nearly 12 percent of all federal judge positions vacant across the United States, there is no doubt among legal analysts that the efficiency of the courts is suffering.

But is the perpetual high judicial vacancy rate eroding the quality of justice in America?

For the most part, the nation's judges are trying to take up the slack. They are relying on semi-retired judges pressed back into service and in some cases employing innovative case-management techniques to avoid a judicial meltdown.

But as the White House and the US Senate prepare for perhaps the most contentious and drawn-out battle yet over judicial nominees and the direction of …

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Publication information: Article title: Judicial Delay: Stark Reality of Vacant Benches ; in Federal Courts Nationwide, the Wait for a Typical Civil Trial Is Now Two Years. Contributors: Warren Richey writer of The Christian Science Monitor - Author. Newspaper title: The Christian Science Monitor. Publication date: May 21, 2001. Page number: 2. © 2009 The Christian Science Publishing Society. Provided by ProQuest LLC. All Rights Reserved.

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