State of the Circuit program

Yesterday the Federal Bar Ass'n Los Angeles held its annual State of the Circuit/District luncheon, featuring presentations from 9th Circuit Judge Paul Watford, Chief Judge George King, Chief Magistrate Judge Suzanne Segal, and Chief Bankruptcy Judge Peter Carroll. Judge Watford reported that 27 of the 29 positions in the 9th Circuit are filled; that pro per filings accounted for more than half of the circuit's caseload last year; that the average time between the filing of a notice of appeal and an opinion is slightly over 13 months; that 92% of decisions are unpublished; and that Judge Sid Thomas will become Circuit Chief on November 30.