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The Judicial Council is the policy making body of California’s state courts. The council
welcomed eleven new members then jumped right into the challenges of another difficult budget
year. Chief Financial Officer Stephen Nash outlined
what funding the branch can expect. Hon. Mary Ann O’Malley, Contra Costa Superior
Court Presiding Judge “This budget is such a relief, not that it’s great, but it’s
such a relief from what we were faced with last year.”
Nash warned that the next two years will also be difficult, because this year’s budget
relies on many one-time solutions. Mike Roddy, San Diego CEO “So fundamentally
we’re not able to keep pace with the cost of doing business and I think it’s going
to be a real big problem for the courts.” The council unanimously approved the funding
plan for court operations, security, and court appointed counsel in dependency cases.
And the new Advisory Committee on Financial Accountability and Efficiency for the Branch
reported on their work. They recommended that the Chief Justice approve 3.5% merit salary
adjustments for eligible employees at the Administrative Office of the Courts. In the
last few years AOC staff have had hiring freezes, no cost of living increases for the last 3
years, and step increases were suspended last year. Plus the mandatory furloughs which reduced
salaries 4.62%. Hon. Terry Friedman, Los Angeles superior
Court (Ret.) “Are these step increases - raises?”
Kenneth Couch, AOC Human Resources “No your honor. You could certainly look at it and
say if it’s 4.62% that we’re losing and we go back and reinstate the step increases
of 3.5, you’re still in the negative column.” Hon. Terry Friedman “Does this money come
in any way from funds that would go to trial court operations?”
Marcia Carlton, AOC Assistant Finance Director “The appropriations for the AOC, Supreme
Court and Appellate courts are completely separate and distinct from the appropriations
for the trial courts.” Hon Richard D. Huffman, 4th Appellate District
“It is not trial court money; if we don’t spend that money to help restore some of these
employees partially to a position of parity with public employment, not a dime, not one
thin dime is going to go to a trial court or deal with court closures.”
Miriam Krinsky, Judicial Council Member “I don’t supervise people who work for the
court, I don’t work for the court, I simply try to look at this responsibly as a member
of the council and sometimes we have to do things that are the right thing to do whether
they’re going to be misinterpreted, misrepresented or whether some may not be happy with them.”
The report on employee compensation was advisory. The Chief Justice has the responsibility for
making the decision. And council members proclaimed November to
be Court Adoption and Permanency month – reinforcing their commitment to finding permanent
homes for children. I’m Leanne Kozak reporting in San Francisco
for California Courts News.