Supreme Weekly: Checking in with Alabama, Connecticut, Florida and Arkansas

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April 14, 2011

From budget cuts in Alabama, to Connecticut's State of the Judiciary address, from proposed changes to Florida's Supreme Court, to a recusal in Arkansas, news abounds this week in the state Supreme Courts.

ALABAMA

This week, Chief Justice Sue Bell Cobb authorized the closing of all courts in the state one day per week. Though the courts would be closed to the public, court employees would still be there to work. The concept behind the closures gives understaffed courts an extra day to keep up with the paperwork and filings integral to running the system.

The order is effective May 1. The presiding judge of the courts can determine which days she or he would prefer to close. One judge, Karen K. Hall, doesn't like the idea of shuttering the doors. Though still in talks with other officials in Circuit 23, she said, "Right now what is being discussed is the possibility of one or two Fridays a month."

This and other orders are meant to substantially decrease the cost of operating Alabama's Unified Judicial System. If funding levels stay the same in the next fiscal year, starting in October, the judicial branch will have a $32,000,000 budget gap that needs filling.

For more, read: Alabama courts will layoff employees.

CONNECTICUT

Yesterday, Chief Justice Chase T. Rogers presented her biannual State of the Judiciary address. While she didn't make the budget a focal point of her speech, Rogers began by informing lawmakers that this year's court budget was already reduced by $34 million.

The speech focused on three areas integral to the courts: access, efficient resolution of cases and fairness.

In looking at access, this year Rogers created the Pro-bono Committee to increase the number of lawyers willing to donate time to represent indigent defendants. Also, the Chief Justice instituted the Pillars of Service Excellence to increase the willingness of court officials to help the public.

To increase the efficiency of case resolution, Rogers has utilized programs that avoid jury trials, in order to prevent backlog. Two of those programs are the Complex Litigation Docket and Foreclosure Mediation Program.

In wrapping up her speech, Justice Rogers thanked the lawmakers for the system of judicial selection in Connecticut, since judges do not run for election. In her words, "...the rule of law necessarily depends on independent courts where judges make decisions based on facts and law, not popular opinion. These decisions must be free from improper influence, which includes political or special interests. Only this ensures that all litigants are treated fairly and equally."

FLORIDA

In Florida, the Florida State Legislature seems content to expand the size of the court budget. The plan proposed by House Majority Leader Dean Cannon to expand the Florida Supreme Court will cost an estimated $14 million. That figure is compiled based on statements by lawmakers and does not include the costs for personnel.

Earlier this week, the Florida House Judiciary Committee approved the HJR 7111 in a 12-6 vote. This occurred three weeks after Governor Rick Scott approved a $14 million shift to move money from one side of the judicial branch's budget to pay for daily operating costs. In the current budget, the courts are due to experience a $70 million budget shortfall, due to a drop in foreclosures.

The resolution in the legislature is seen be many as an attempt for the body to exert its control over the judicial branch of government. The Associated Press summed it up with the line, "As the state's judicial branch is learning, hell hath no fury like a House speaker scorned." This is in response to legislation passed last year and removed from the ballot by the high court.

In addition to splitting the Supreme Court, other proposals aim to: give the Florida State Senate power of confirmation over Supreme Court nominees; allow the legislature to repeal court rules; and increase court funding from 1.94% of the state's general revenue to 2.25%.

To read more, check out: Plan to split Supreme Court moves ahead in Florida.

ARKANSAS

Earlier this week, Governor Mike Beebe appointed Deborah Knox a special associate justice of the Arkansas Supreme Court. The court is hearing the case Hempstead County Hunting Club Inc. v. Southwestern Electric Power Co., from which Justice Courtney Henry has recused herself.

See also

• Supreme Weekly: Vacancies in California, Virginia and New Jersey
• Judgepedia's Supreme Weekly: The States