Over Two Decades, Civil Rights Cases Rise 27 Percent

Civil rights-related filings in the federal courts began to climb soon after the Civil Rights Act of 1964 was signed into law, jumping from 709 cases in 1964 to 1,123 cases by 1965. In 2013, a total of 35,307 civil rights cases (pdf) were filed in federal court, 50 times the number of cases filed in 1964, and a 27 percent jump over the last two decades.

Most civil rights cases filed in federal court are related to voting, housing, employment, and the Americans with Disabilities Act. A large number of civil rights cases are filed under 42 U.S.C. Sections 1981, 1982, 1983 and 1985 relating to race and sex discrimination; prisoner civil rights; deprivation of rights, personal property, and due process; and conspiracy to interfere with civil rights.