Over the last 30 years, Alabama has seen a steady decline in civil cases going to jury trials. This trend is particularly puzzling when considering the state’s population has increased, not declined. In a world where conflict seems more common than ever, one might wonder why a jury is deciding fewer cases. There are many theories out there, but one thing is certain: Alabama’s courtroom landscape is changing.
What Do the Statistics Show?
As an attorney, I rely on facts to win cases for my clients. There’s nothing more factual than numbers, and they paint a stark picture. Thirty years ago, 1 in 25 cases went to trial; today, that figure has plummeted to roughly 1 in 200. However, despite fewer cases reaching the trial stage, the time it takes to get a trial date has only increased. In 1997, the median time to trial was 17 months in the federal courts in Alabama. By June 2022, that figure grew to 40.8 months
Additionally, Alabama’s population expanded by 25% from 1990 to 2020, but civil filings haven’t kept pace. In 1997, there was one federal civil filing per ~531 Alabamians. By 2022, that number had dropped to one filing for every ~1,632 Alabama residents.
Alabama’s state court system also reflect this trend, with 28,579 civil cases filed in 2022, a significant decrease from the 42,477 cases in 2019. Furthermore, in 2019, there were only 290 civil jury trials. Only 0.82% of civil cases resulted in jury trials in 2022, down from 1.61% in 2001.
Overall, this indicates a marked reduction in the use of jury trials as a method of resolving civil disputes. But why is that?
What Are the Causes of the Decline?
There are several factors that may have contributed to this decline:
- Alternative dispute resolution (ADR) methods like mediation and arbitration are seen as quicker and more predictable.
- The litigation costs, including discovery, have become both time-consuming and expensive.
- Social media has made it harder to find an unbiased jury.
- Alabama judges’ qualifications are being scrutinized, resulting in a decrease in confidence in our judicial system.
I also believe the Civil Justice Reform Act of 1990 (CJRA) had many unintended consequences, which led to civil case attorneys seeing fewer trials in the courtroom.
Unintended Consequences of The Civil Justice Reform Act of 1990
The CJRA is intended to streamline the judicial process and reduce delays. A key provision of this act was the “six-month list,” which, while emphasizing efficiency, unintentionally pressured judges to expedite judicial dispositions rather than allowing the citizens sitting on a jury to decide cases. Once arbiters of justice, judges became more like case managers, focused more on clearing their dockets than ensuring a fair, legal process.
The rise of summary judgments has also played a role. These motions were initially intended to weed out frivolous cases. But they’ve now become increasingly more common, effectively denying citizens their day in court. As judges opt for quicker resolutions, these motions have also contributed to the decline in jury trials.
What Can Civil Case Attorneys Do?
At Sinclair Law Firm, we understand that behind every case is a person seeking justice. We’ve been committed to fighting for our client’s rights for over two decades, holding insurance companies accountable for their promises. To us, our clients aren’t just case numbers—they’re family. While the landscape of civil trials may be changing, our dedication to achieving the best possible outcome for our clients remains unwavering. Contact us for a free claim review, and let us fight the battle for what you deserve.