March 14, 1999

Crushing load of cases is forcing Federal appeals courts to create two-level system, in which tens of thousands of cases receive only limited reviews; some judges say changes are necessary to cope with increasing number of cases without extending wait for rulings; critics note that fewer than half of all Federal appeals are argued before judges, only fourth are rendered in full opinions, and many consist of one-word decisions; complex civil rights, antitrust and other such cases still get traditional detailed consideration but others deemed routine, such as prison petitions and individual disability claims, receive abbreviated attention; Judge Patricia M Wald says two tracks are allocated by non-judges on staff; reorganization and shortcuts introduced in 1980's explained; issue is now raised in Florida as former county commissioner Vicki Lopez-Lukis appeals her conviction for taking payments from lobbyist, Sylvester Lukis, with whom she was then having affair; two are now married; photo; graph on court caseloads (M)

Three powerful bombs exloded in midst of markets in two towns in Kosovo, killing at least six people, including two children, and wounding dozens more; attack comes as leaders of ethnic Albanian majority leave for new round of peace talks with Serbs in Paris; two sides blame each other (M)

Article on Brighton Beach section of Brooklyn, NYC, which became hub for Ukrainians immigrating from Soviet Union 25 years ago; many residents say neighborhood is beginning to decline as their children move away and Mexicans, Pakistanis and Middle Easterners move in; photo; map (M)

Article on thriving theater scene in Los Angeles and other parts of southern California, which is attracting larger numbers of film and TV stars; photos (M)

Article on Canadian Center for Architecture's competition to redesign blighted 12-block corridor in Manhattan between Eighth Avenue and Hudson River and 30th and 34th Streets; finalists noted; photo (M)