Weighted Caseload Studies
April 2025
Authors: Erin Brown, David Melendez, and Mason Hilliard
State law requires the Comptroller of the Treasury to maintain and update a weighted caseload study for the state trial court judges, district attorneys, and public defenders.
Weighted caseload studies account for the amount of time and resources needed to process the different types of cases in a caseload. A weighted caseload study determines the appropriate weight for cases based on their complexity. For example, more weight is added to cases that take more time and resources. The weights for each type of case are then multiplied by the number of cases to produce an estimate of resources needed.
The Comptroller's Office has not updated the weighted caseload study for state trial court judges since fiscal year 2019 because of the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, the resulting changes to court operations, and outdated case weights. In lieu of updating the judicial weighted caseload study, the Comptroller's Office has conducted related research projects. In 2024, the Comptroller’s Office and the Administrative Office of the Courts contracted with the National Center for State Courts to update the weights for state trial court judges. After the weights are updated, the Comptroller’s Office plans to publish an updated judicial weighted caseload study in early 2026 using the new weights.
The weighted caseload study for district attorneys and public defenders has not been updated since 2006, as described in regular memos issued by the Comptroller’s Office.
The April 2025 publication considers the past, present, and future of weighted caseload studies in Tennessee. An analysis of criminal and civil case filing trends from 2016 through 2023 is also included.
Reports, briefs, maps, and memos from prior years can be found below.
2024
2022
2021
2020
Legislative Brief
Snapshot
Judicial Map 2019
Memo
2019
Legislative Brief
Snapshot
Judicial Map 2018
Memo
2018
Legislative Brief
Judicial Map 2017
Memo