Editing Philadelphia Courts (section)

== Challenges ==

Case backlogs affect multiple courts, with civil litigation often taking years to reach trial and criminal cases facing delays that affect both defendants and victims. The COVID-19 pandemic exacerbated backlogs as court operations were suspended or limited during 2020 and 2021. Recovery efforts have sought to reduce accumulated delays through expanded scheduling and procedural changes.<ref name="courts"/>

Resources constrain court operations, with staffing levels, facility conditions, and technology investments affecting the system's capacity to process cases efficiently. Budget pressures from state government, which funds most court operations, have periodically forced service reductions or hiring freezes that impact case processing.<ref name="courts"/>

Bail reform debates have focused attention on pretrial detention practices, with critics arguing that cash bail discriminates against poor defendants while defenders maintain it serves public safety. District Attorney Larry Krasner's policies reducing bail requests have generated controversy and contributed to broader debates about the criminal justice system.<ref name="courts"/>