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Probe ordered in court backlog
The Journal Gazette (Fort Wayne, IN)
October 24, 2002
http://infoweb.newsbank.com.proxy.portagelibrary.info/resources/doc/nb/news/0F6E36201DDC7E2C?p=AWNB
Indiana Supreme Court Chief Justice Randall T. Shepard has ordered the Division of State Court Administration to investigate the case backlog in Judge Joan Kouros' Lake County court.
Monday's order followed an Oct. 3 complaint by Lake County Clerk Anna Anton.
Court statistics for the third-quarter 2002 show Kouros either leads the other three criminal division judges or is second in most areas, including jury trials and guilty pleas processed.
Anton estimated Kouros had more than 400 case files checked out compared with other judges' normal average of about 50.
She said the backlog leads to inmates overstaying their time in jail, timely restitution not being made to victims, and defense attorneys remaining unpaid. Kouros said the larger problem is delays in Anton's office.
