New Ariz. Chief Judge Issues Order to Address Shortage of Judges, Rising Caseload

The new federal chief judge for Arizona has declared a judicial emergency allowing for the lifting of time limits on trying accused criminals because of an "acute shortage of judges," The Arizona Republic reports.

Chief District Judge Roslyn O. Silver was named the new chief judge after the former chief, U.S. District Judge John Roll, was murdered during the shooting tragedy in Tucson. Roll had attended Rep. Gabrielle Gifford's event to discuss the burdened Arizona courts.

"The need to suspend the time limits is of great urgency due to a heavy criminal caseload, a lack of adequate resources, and the tragic death of Chief Judge John Roll on January 8, 2011," Judge Silver wrote in a "Declaration of Judicial Emergency Under the Speedy Trial Act" order.

The United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit, in which Arizona resides, issued a statement noting that the "Arizona federal court has the third highest criminal caseload in the nation ...." The statement continued, that the "bulk of the criminal caseload is assigned to the court's Tucson division, where three judges currently handle approximately 1,200 cases each."

Ninth Circuit Chief Judge Alex Kozinski said, "The district Court in Arizona urgently needs additional resources. Judicial vacancies need to be filled and new judgeships should be given strong consideration. There is also a need for more court staff and facilities."

Sen. Judiciary Chairman Patrick Leahy told The Arizona Republic that judicial vacancies are on the rise throughout the country. Earlier this week, Leahy urged the new Congress to remove the partisan rancor that has caused too many judicial nominations to languish in the Senate, resulting in a rising number of vacancies on the federal bench.

See JudicialNominations.org for continued coverage of the crisis facing the federal courts.