Speech #1050190973

For example. in 1997. the Federal judiciary saw increases in both criminal and civil cases. The number of cases filed in the district courts increased by 24 percent. The most significant increases occurred in drug and immigration cases. particularly. as this chart will indicate. in many of our border States which are the front lines for drug and immigration litigation. This growth in Federal caseloads has been coupled with a growing trend by the Congress to federalize an increasing number of laws that have traditionally been considered State responsibilities. These new laws have opened our courts to more cases without the requisite judges to meet the demand.