We took a sabbatical for a bit while I shoveled work off my desk, but with 2017 here already, let’s get back in the saddle by making some general observations about 2016.
Statistics
Law Court caseload statistics have been posted for 2012 through 2016. On the civil front, overall, total filings show 477 in 2012, 420 in 2013, 431 in 2014, 443 in 2015 and 478 in 2016. So a dip, and then back to the 2012 level. The distribution of types of appeals, however, has changed, with fewer general civil appeals, far fewer worker’s comp appeals, and more family and child protective appeals. The child protection appeals in particular soared from 38 in 2012 to 89 in 2016. One of my favorites, 80Bs and 80Cs, have kept steady numbers – 25-29 over the five year period. Probate has almost doubled, from 15 in 2012 to 27 in 2016. People are apparently crankier about their speeding tickets, too – 1 traffic infraction