NEWS RELEASE
www.ncsconline.org

State court budgets: Reduce hours, consolidate courts, improve technology

Williamsburg, VA (July 7, 2009) – State courts across the country are implementing numerous and varied cost-cutting measures – from reducing court hours to implementing furloughs and hiring freezes to consolidating courts -- in response to budget cuts brought on by the economic recession, according to a recent survey conducted by the National Center for State Courts (NCSC) and the Conference of State Court Administrators (COSCA). With court hours and staff time on the chopping block, an overwhelming number of courts said they are turning to advanced technology as a means to protect the public’s access to courts.

The survey of 54 states and territories found that for Fiscal Year 2010, courts in 27 states have had their budgets reduced, and 12 additional states are anticipating budgets cuts in coming weeks as their Legislatures finalize 2010 state budgets. Ten state court systems have had their budgets reduced by at least 5 percent. To review the survey results state, go to www.ncsconline.org/wc/budget/activities.asp.

“The national recession is having a profound impact on how Americans gain access to justice,” said Stephanie Cole, Administrative Director of the Alaska State Courts and president of COSCA.

With state revenues in a free fall, the NCSC and COSCA conducted the survey to learn how state courts are coping with, and planning for, the potential of the most severe budget cuts in decades.

Budget cuts are taking shape in a variety of ways:

• 28 state courts have imposed hiring freezes. 13 state courts have frozen salaries
• Seven states have encouraged judges and staff to accept salary reductions – or have imposed salary reductions
• Six states have mandated furloughs of court staff
• Six states have reduced court hours.

A glimpse of what courts across the country are experiencing: In Delaware courts placed a hiring freeze on all positions except security; Florida courts have laid off 280 employees, out of its 3,100 person workforce; Minnesota has cut court hours and public counters are closed a half day each week in some districts; Iowa is considering reducing administrative districts, merging internal court operations and creating more flexibility in allocating judges; in Nevada the Governor has recommended cutting employee salaries by 6 percent, eliminating merit increases and requiring all employees take 12 furlough days a year.

Some states are considering changes their courts’ organizational structure, including: consolidating courts, altering venue and jurisdictional lines, and creating more flexibility to allocate judges and court personnel to work across jurisdictional lines.

Many state courts are turning to technology to help reduce costs but maintain court efficiency. An overwhelming number of respondents said their courts were making technological changes to enhance court effectiveness and reduce costs. Many courts are in the process of implementing an integrated case management system, using such tools as: electronic filing, electronic records, integrated case management systems, and use of video arraignments and video conferencing.
 
With the survey results, the NCSC and COSCA, plan to better understand how the economy is impacting the state courts and to provide information and assistance to the states and territories to help them provide quality judicial services effectively and efficiently despite the budget cuts.

The National Center for State Courts, headquartered in Williamsburg, Va., is a nonprofit court reform organization dedicated to improving the administration of justice by providing leadership and service to the state courts. The National Center, founded in 1971 by the Conference of Chief Justices and Chief Justice of the United States Warren E. Burger, provides education, training, and technology, management, and research services to the nation’s state courts.  

###

National Center for State Courts, 300 Newport Avenue, Williamsburg, VA  23185-4147