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Wadsworth judge reports surge in civil filings; court handled 6,822 cases in 2025
Summary
Judge Susana Lewis told Council the Municipal Court disposed of 6,822 cases in 2025 and noted a marked increase in civil filings (debt collections and contract disputes) while criminal and traffic caseloads remained steady; the court also implemented e-filing and a central security checkpoint.
Judge Susana Lewis presented the Wadsworth Municipal Court's 2025 Annual Report and told Council the court "disposed of 6,822 cases during 2025." She said the most significant trend was a dramatic increase in the civil docket — particularly debt collection and contract-related litigation — which had approximately doubled since 2023 while staffing levels remained unchanged.
Lewis described administrative improvements during 2025 including a centralized courthouse security checkpoint staffed by experienced retired officers, implementation of electronic filing for civil cases, and email notifications to litigants. She reported improved restitution collections for crime victims and noted the court remains a single-judge court without magistrates, meaning virtually every contested issue appears before the elected judge.
