House Journal: Page 59: Wednesday, January 10, 1996

Keeping up with the rising tide of cases remains our biggest
challenge., More than one-half million cases, not including
simple traffic violations, were filed last year in this state. 
That's more than one case every minute.  In other words, during
the time that I'm visiting with you this morning, thirty new
cases will be filed.

Criminal, domestic abuse and juvenile cases continue to crowd
our dockets and consume our time the most.

Please listen to the growth last year in the number of these
cases:

-Indictable criminal cases, the most serious crimes, jumped 10
percent.

-Simple misdemeanor cases, a category in which we always see
high-volume, increased 13 percent.

-juvenile cases grew 6 percent.

-And, domestic abuse cases continue to pour in at a frenzied
rate; they shot up 31 percent.

There's no end in sight to these alarming trends.  Because of
time constraints, I won't go into more detail about the caseload
now.  But I ask that you carefully review the information that
is attached to these remarks.
You must bear in mind that new laws and mandates inevitably
increase the pressure.  Tougher criminal penalties add to the
demands on our courts.  New civil remedies add to the demands on
our courts.  Shorter time frames for hearings add to the demands
on our courts.  Each one adds to the demands placed on the
courts, which in turn adds to the need for more resources.  It's
like trying to manufacture a newly designed car without
retooling the factory.

How does all of this look to the hundreds of Iowans coming to
court each day?

Sensational trials, such as that of O.J. Simpson, grab
front-page headlines and public attention.  But while they serve
in some ways to educate the public about court procedures, they
bear little resemblance to typical cases that represent the
courts' routine business.

Last year, I provided you with some descriptions of the hectic
pace in our urban courthouses.  Rural courts -are also
overwhelmed.  However, there's a major difference between court
service in a rural courthouse and an urban courthouse.  Rural
courts do not have the luxury of having a judge available each
day.
In Dallas County, just to the west, court service day resembles
a "cattle call" with people nervously waiting for hours to have
their case heard.  Criminal matters get top priority.  They are
heard first.  Civil cases are heard later in the day only if all
criminal matters are completed.  It's not unusual for court
service to continue into the night with some matters left
unresolved.

Many cases get "bumped" until later dates.  Recently, I learned
of a dissolution case pending in Dallas County involving the
custody of two children.  The day before trial, the case was
continued because all of the judges were busy, presiding over
other cases.  The family came back six weeks later.  Again, the
day before trial,

Iowa General Assembly

Index: House Journal (76th General Assembly: Session 2)

© 1996 Cornell College and League of Women Voters of Iowa

Comments? hjourn@legis.iowa.gov.

Last update: Mon Jan 15 12:25:00 CST 1996
URL: /DOCS/GA/76GA/Session.2/HJournal/00000/00059.html
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