Although class actions account for only about 2 percent of the corporation's caseload, by their nature they can have a large impact.

Felony offenders account for 70 percent of the department's caseload, he said.

While states can grant extensions to 20 percent of their caseload, Herr thinks that won't be nearly enough.

Similarly, Louisiana dropped 4,200 families this year, about 10 percent of its caseload, after they reached a two-year limit.

That requires them to have 25 percent of their total caseload, including single parents, in work activities.

Now in private practice, Mr. Lester said community issues were about 40 percent of his caseload.

In 2006, Russians filed 10,569 cases, 22 percent of the court's caseload.

More than 260,000 residents receive public assistance, representing about 40 percent of the state's caseload.

As recently as 1983, Hispanic recipients accounted for just 12 percent of the nation's caseload, about half their current share.

The alcohol and drug treatment cases represent 4 percent of the counseling unit's total caseload.