The VLW Quick 10: Still the “Rocket Docket”

Can Virginia’s Eastern District still lay claim to being the “rocket docket”?

Check out our Quick10 list of which federal district courts are the fastest to move ‘em in and move ‘em out, according to the Judicial Business 2009 Report from the U.S. Courts website.

Strictly speaking, we’re still at the top of the heap, with 10 months between filing and trial for civil cases. But Florida’s federal courts are fast gaining on us, especially considering their higher volume of cases. Virginia’s Western District, by contrast, posted a highly respectable 21 months from filing to trial completion of its 11 civil cases.

The worst? Illinois’ Southern District: only 21 cases, but 54 months from filing to completed trial.

Median Number of Months from Filing to Trial for Civil Cases with Completed Trials
From Sept. 30, 2008 to Sept. 30, 2009, with (Number of Trials):

1. Virginia, Eastern District 10.2 (38)

2. Wisconsin, Western District 15 (14)

3. Arkansas, Western District 15 (19)

4. Alabama, Middle District 15 (18)

5. Florida, Southern District 15.7 (105)

6. Florida, Northern District 16 (27)

7. Nebraska 16.7 (17)

8. Ohio, Northern District 17 (40)

9. Texas, Western District 17.5 (50)

10. Alabama, Southern District 18 (12)