“Business Model”Implications of 
the 2003 Performance Audit
Activity and Operating Expenses
1997-2002

Judicial Branch Operating 
Expenses
..2002 Operating Expenses: $55.8 million
..1997-2002 CAGR: 3.7%
$0.00$20.00$40.00$60.00199719981999200020012002$ in millions

Text Box: Composition of Expenses 2002 Operating Expenses ($ in thousands)
..Stable Volume after ’97 peak
..District Court accounts for 80% of case 
volume
Judicial Activity: Disposed Cases190000200000210000220000230000240000199719981999200020012002Total Cases

Judicial “Activity”
Cases Disposed
020000400006000080000100000120000140000160000180000200000199719981999200020012002Supreme CourtSuperior CourtDistrict CourtProbate CourtFamily Division

Significant Variation in Cost/Case 
Across Courts
$0$100$200$300$400$500$600$700$80019972002Superior CourtDistrict CourtProbate CourtFamily Division


Increases in Cost/Case by 
Court ’97-’02: CAGR %
10.00%
8.00%
6.00%
4.00%District
2.00%Fa
0.00%
-2.00%
'97-'02

Expense Increase by Natural 
Expense Category ’97-’02
..Total Operating Expenses
..+$9.4 million….+3.7% cagr
..Attributable to 
..Justices & Masters Salaries: $1.5 3.6%

Expense/Justice and Master 
SalariesBenefits and Retiree Expense/Justice & 
Master Salaries
..
..

Branch Operating Expense 
’97-’02Attributable to
..Change in Case Volume:-$3.5 m
..Changes in Avg. Cost Per Case
..Changes in Mix of Case: $.6m
..Cost and Productivity Changes$12.3 m

Demand for Judicial Services
0.2
0.195
0.1850.19
0.18
0.170.175
0.16'97'98'99'00'01'02