The Nation - News from Jan. 1, 1988

A shortage of trial and appellate judges poses a “serious dilemma” for the federal courts not likely to be resolved soon because of budget pressures, Chief Justice William H. Rehnquist said. In a year-end report on the federal judiciary, Rehnquist said: “The immediate prospect is that few, if any, additional federal judges and court personnel will be available to cope with what has been and probably will continue to be an increasing workload at all levels.” Rehnquist noted that 48 federal judgeships remain vacant and that a judicial advisory panel he chairs has recommended creation of 56 new trial judgeships and 13 appellate judgeships. Adding to the bleak forecast, the chief justice said guidelines by the U.S. Sentencing Commission that took effect Nov. 1 probably will require judges to deliberate longer about sentences, Rehnquist said.