Last time, we compared the length of majority opinions at the Court in civil cases for reversals and affirmances between 1990 and 2003.  In this post, we’re looking at the years 2004 through 2018.

Between 2004 and 2010, in five of seven years reversals averaged longer majority opinions than affirmances.  In 2004, reversals averaged 24.39 pages to 20.25 for affirmances.  In 2005, reversals averaged 24.62 pages and affirmances averaged 22.38 pages.  In 2006, reversals averaged 28 pages; affirmances averaged 22.67 pages.  The following year, reversals averaged 24.79 pages, while affirmances ran 21.6 pages.  In 2008, reversals averaged 28.54 pages.  Affirmances were 22.67 pages.  In 2009, affirmances averaged 25.83 pages, while reversals averaged 22.52.  In 2010, affirmances averaged 30 pages, while reversals were 23.87 pages.

We report the most recent data in Table 738.  In five of eight years, civil reversals were longer on average than affirmances.  In 2011, affirmances averaged 23.5 pages to 22.56 for reversals.  IN 2012, reversals were 27.32 pages, while affirmances averaged 22.33 pages.  In 2013, affirmances averaged 27.57 pages.  Reversals averaged 25.67 pages.  In 2014, affirmances averaged 31.7 pages.  Reversals averaged 23.91.  In 2015, majorities reversing averaged 27.78 pages, while affirmances were 27.44.  In 2016, reversals averaged 26.95 pages, while affirmances were 23.64 pages.  In 2017, reversals averaged 24.61 pages, and affirmances were 23.29.  In 2018, reversals averaged 29.87 pages, while affirmances were 25.71.

Join us back here next week as we turn our attention to the Court’s criminal docket.

Image courtesy of Flickr by LocoSteve (no changes).