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In many instances, spreadsheets or other files have been grouped and compressed to speed downloads. These archival files are presented in .zip format, which must be expanded to view and use. Commercial and free expanders are available for most platforms. Go to Info-ZIP for free, portable, high-quality versions of the Zip and UnZip compressor-archive utilities.

You can subscribe to BJS' JUSTSTATS email list to get electronic notices of new crime and justice statistical materials as they become available from—

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Once you subscribe, you will receive an email notification from JUSTSTATS when updated or new information becomes available.

You may also be interested in subscribing the JUSTINFO, a biweekly electronic newsletter available from the National Criminal Justice Reference Service (NCJRS), BJS' clearinghouse. To view past issues of JUSTINFO or to subscribe, visit the JUSTINFO Newsletter section of the NCJRS website.

From 1987 to 2004, the percentage of trial courts requiring judges to hold a law degree increased from 87% to 88% in limited jurisdiction courts, and from 44% to 52% in general jurisdiction courts. More states established pre-bench and continuing education requirements for both limited and general jurisdiction trial judges in 2004 than in 1993, the first year such data were available.

From 1993 to 2004, the number of states with pre-bench education requirements for general jurisdiction judges increased from 23 to 30 and for limited jurisdiction judges, from 22 to 28. There was also a 23% increase in the number of states requiring general jurisdiction judges to continue enrolling in specific training courses during their tenure, and a 19% increase in the number of states requiring the same for limited jurisdiction judges.