The total number of new cases filed in Ohio courts in 2011 reached a 10-year low, according to the annual Ohio Courts Statistical Summary. These results and others are contained in the 2011 reportreleased today by the Ohio Supreme Court.

For the third consecutive year, the total number of new cases (2,710,144) decreased last year. While the number has fluctuated over a decade, the 2011 total represents a 21 percent decrease from a high of 3,421,193 in 2002.

Total new traffic filings in municipal and county courts (1,173,672) remained the primary contributor for the overall decline, as this category also bottomed out at a 10-year statistical low. New traffic cases in juvenile court (44,834) also dipped to a 10-year low.

In examining data from Ohio courts over the last 10 years, the Ohio Supreme Court analyzes data from the report and identifies trends. The companion publication – the Ohio Courts Statistical Report – includes raw statistical tables of activity in Ohio’s courts from trial courts to appellate courts including statistics about caseloads, case terminations and clearance rates from the previous year.

Taking all courts combined, the number of new cases decreased by 4 percent over 2010, with traffic cases in municipal and county courts constituting 43 percent of all new filings across all courts. The last time this few new cases were filed was 26 years ago in 1985.

One other significant trend contained in the report concerns general divisions of common pleas courts. Each one of the case categories (administrative appeals, criminal, foreclosures, other civil, other torts, product liability, professional tort and workers’ compensation) declined compared to 2010 with five of those experiencing 10-year lows.

Information contained in the reports is provided to the Ohio Supreme Court on a monthly basis by all courts except for courts of appeals and probate courts, which provide statistics on a quarterly basis. Mayor’s courts statistics are contained in a separate report that will be published soon.

By analyzing case filing patterns and trends, the Ohio Supreme Courts attempts to assist in the efficient administration of justice at all levels of the judiciary. The Ohio Supreme Court does not examine or analyze larger social and governmental trends that may contribute to or influence changes in case filing volumes.