Massachusetts courts will lose the ability to both deliver
justice and ensure security within their walls if the Legislature
does not approve adequate funding for fiscal 2013. That was the
message delivered by court leaders and lawyers at a Court Advocacy
Day hosted by the Massachusetts Bar Association and the Boston Bar
Association at the Grand Staircase of the Statehouse on March
19.
"Losing more than 17 percent of court personnel directly affects
our ability or deliver justice in ways that are all too familiar to
you and your colleagues," Supreme Judicial Court Chief Justice
Roderick L. Ireland said. "Inadequate funding has made access to
justice all the more harder."
The Trial Court Department is asking for $593.9 million in
"critical funding" it needs to preserve the integrity of the
courts. Gov. Deval L. Patrick recommended level funding the courts
when he released his state budget proposal in late January. The
House and Senate will start debating the budgets in April and May,
respectively.
"Our message today is pretty simple … supporting the courts
request for $593 million is essential," MBA President Richard P.
Campbell said.
Following the speaking program, attendees met with their local
legislators to emphasize the need for $593.9 million in
funding.
"The erosion in the judiciary's budget that has characterized the
past several years has brought the Trial Court to an unacceptable
level of capacity," said BBA President Lisa C. Goodheart, who
shared the example of judges from the criminal session borrowing
court officers from the civil session, forcing those proceedings to
a halt.
Chief Justice for Administration and Management Robert A. Mulligan
said that since July 2007, the Trial Court has 1,316 fewer
employees, which has led to a drop in the courts' clearance rate
and the reduction of clerks' office hours in 40 court
divisions.
Court Advocacy Day complements the Massachusetts Bar Association's
comprehensive public awareness campaign on underfunded courts. In
addition to a statewide billboard campaign on this topic, the MBA
has posted videos on YouTube and conducted outreach to members of
the legal community and other key community leaders and groups. All
stress the importance of adequately funding the state's third
branch of government.