CASELOAD SUPPORTS NEED FOR FULL-TIME FEDERAL JUDGE HERE

The numbers speak for themselves.

In 1991, there were 154 civil and 43 criminal cases filed in the Southeast Missouri division of U.S. District Court. So far this year, 193 civil cases and 72 criminal cases have been filed. Cape Girardeau's caseload merits a full-time federal judge.

Unfortunately, that isn't the attitude of Chief Judge Jean Hamilton. She doesn't feel the number of cases warrants a full-time judge, even though the numbers are growing. It can be hoped the numbers and local sentiment will compel her to reconsider.

While the caseload in Cape Girardeau has grown steadily, the number of total cases in all of Eastern Missouri has declined. In 1993, 2,700 civil and 325 criminal cases were filed. So far this year, 2,200 civil and 300 criminal cases have been filed in the district.

Currently, a district judge travels to Cape Girardeau two weeks out of every month. Six judges handle the assignments on a rotating basis. In fairness, the rotating schedule has allowed judges to be in court here two weeks out of the month. Previously, a judge spent only one week each month in Cape Girardeau's federal court. But even two weeks isn't sufficient.

The lack of a full-time judge here limits justice. The court is so busy that cases sometimes must wait many months for trial. Relocating cases to St. Louis simply isn't feasible, considering the Cape Girardeau courthouse serves the entire Bootheel. Poor accessibility to judges slows down the legal process.

With three full-time prosecutors and other federal agents in Cape Girardeau, the addition of a full-time judge would also help speed the criminal side along.

The issue of a full-time judge could possibly have an impact on a the decision to build a new federal here. An official with the Government Services Administration said the project won't progress very fast without a full-time judge.

The GSA is pursuing sites for a $30 million federal building. Construction had been scheduled to begin in 1999. But now the project may be put on hold. This decision not to appoint a full-time judge in Cape Girardeau could be very expensive for Southeast Missouri indeed.