Seventh Circuit Appellate Court Filings Continue Downward Trajectory

The Seventh Circuit has issued its annual report for 2022, and once again, the trend is down. The number of appeals filed in 2022 was 2,362, a decrease of 5% from 2021. This cannot be attributed to the pandemic or economic forces alone. Examining the bigger picture, the number has steadily declined over 20 years. For example, there were 3,399 appeals filed in 2004, amounting to a drop of over 1,000 appeals over the last two decades. Of further interest is the large percentage of pro se appellate filings in the Seventh Circuit. Across the federal appellate circuit courts, 43% of new appeals were filed by pro se litigants in 2022. However, in the Seventh Circuit, 58% of new appeals are filed by pro se litigants.

About the Author

Christopher Keleher clerked for the Hon. William J. Bauer of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit. This unique opportunity provided Mr. Keleher with an invaluable understanding of the inner workings of an appellate court. He saw what persuades judges and what does not, and utilizes this knowledge every time he writes an appellate brief. The Keleher Appellate Law Group handles all phases of appellate litigation in federal and state courts across the country. Read more here.