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Judicial vacancies in Colorado

February 7, 2011

DPCC Fact Sheet: Judicial Vacancy Crisis
Judicial vacancies in our federal courts are reaching historic highs. There are currently 104 vacancies on federal district and circuit courts, forty-nine of which are determined to be judicial emergencies by the non-partisan Administrative Office of the U.S. Courts, which means there are simply not enough judges on the bench to do the work of the district or the circuit. This means justice and fairness is delayed-and often denied- for those in need, from working mothers seeking timely compensation for their employment discrimination claims to communities hoping for swift injunction of corporate environmental polluters to small business owners seeking protection from unfair and anti-competitive practices.

In Colorado, Vacancies Impact Businesses Waiting for Civil Rulings, As Well as Rural and Tribal Communities. Describing judicial vacancies in Colorado last year, Sen. Mark Udall said, “Judicial understaffing in Colorado has a real impact on the residents and businesses in our state. As the caseload increases for each judge, more and more time must be devoted to criminal cases - this is because of the Constitutional guarantee of a speedy trial. But as time and energy shifts to clearing the criminal docket, the civil docket suffers. It continues to become increasingly difficult to schedule a trial in Colorado as the backup grows longer. This increased caseload has a significant impact on our rural and tribal communities around the state as well.” [Udall Press Release, 7/29/10]

http://democrats.senate.gov/newsroom/record.cfm?id=330943