The format for each entry provides historical information for the court and presents workload data as well as information based on the number of judgeships authorized by statute. District court workloads are divided by the number of authorized judgeships in each court to provide the caseload per judge. In the courts of appeals, cases are generally handled by a three-judge panel, hence workload figures are shown per panel. These figures eliminate the influence of court size and allow intercourt comparisons. In 1992, the U.S. Courts of Appeals experienced increases in filings, terminations, and pending cases. Criminal appeals rose from 10,249 in 1991 to 11,215 in 1992. The number of drug-related cases has resulted in a 95-percent increase in criminal filings per panel since 1987. After three years of decreases, the number of civil filings rose 9 percent in 1992. District court filings also rose by 9 percent in 1991, from 244,790 to 265,612. The increase in civil filings was primarily due to defaulted student loans, civil rights cases, and prisoner petitions.