"No fault" auto insurance laws, designed to assure swift out-of-court compensation for minor injuries, have generally been ineffective in reducing legal fees and court backlogs.

The speedy-trial provision, which measures the time a case proceeds through the criminal justice system, can result in cases being dismissed if the court backlog grows.

The 76-year-old Judge Kenny, who had retired six years earlier but was recalled to help reduce court backlogs, ruled against Ms. Rivera.

When Judge Wachtler suggested in 1987 that court backlogs could be reduced if judges canceled their vacations.

Most states have suffered from heavy court backlogs and a shortage of prison space that has forced early release of many inmates.

He developed procedures that helped reduce court backlogs in the five counties.

Experts mention Seattle, Miami, San Diego and Denver among the cities that have been reducing their court backlogs.

When Brooklyn district attorneys conducted a frenzy of plea bargaining to reduce court backlogs, some people called it a fire sale.

With increasing court backlogs, it was clear to many law reformers and politicians that serious reform was needed.

Mr. Morris figured he might even be good for the whole winter, with court backlogs.