Queuing Up for Justice: Prosecutor Elections and Case Backlogs

Abstract

We analyze the impact of prosecutor elections on case backlogs. Previous evidence has shown that re-election pressures result in more cases going to trial. Since trials require time and resources, one can expect an effect on the queue. Two competing theories are developed: one of signaling quality in an asymmetric information environment and one of effort exertion, each of which can explain increased trials before election, but differ in their predictions regarding the impact on backlogs. A district-level, panel data set of caseload flows in North Carolina is analyzed. We present evidence that elections, and specifically contested re-elections, are associated with a decrease in the number of cases handled.

Keywords: case backlog, elections, prosecutor

JEL Classification: K41, D82