By Matt Masich, LAW WEEK COLORADO
DENVER – The Colorado Judicial Department is proposing to cut 266 full-time positions in courts and probation offices across the state.
In the budget request submitted last week to the state legislature’s Joint Budget Committee, the department also proposed a $14 million reduction in general fund money next fiscal year, a 5.9 percent cut. The reduction would affect every judicial district in the state.
Carolyn Kampman, the JBC budget analyst who works with the courts, will explain the details of the budget request Wednesday at a briefing to the JBC. Last week, Kampman said the department is facing economic reality by proposing its own budget cuts. The state now faces a $1 billion budget shortfall.
The proposed budget would also delay the start date for 15 new judgeships by six months to a year. Because each judgeship includes clerks and other support staff, the delay eliminates 43 full-time positions from the next budget.
The department has been anticipating these cuts and delays since at least August, when it sent a memo to all state courts telling them to prepare for the reductions. Last week’s budget request acknowledged the smaller staff will be a hardship for the courts.
“The initial impacts seen from staffing reductions to courts is decreased access and case delays,” the request reads. “Case delays have a ripple effect throughout the state, impacting families businesses, county jails and many other state and local agencies.”
Even with the large-scale cutbacks in court jobs, “the goal is to avoid layoffs,” said spokesman Jon Sarche. While the department proposes to cut 266 full-time equivalent jobs, there are currently around 250 job vacancies. If the department doesn’t fill those positions, it seems possible to arrive at 266 job cuts by the time the next fiscal year starts in July.
“We are studying staffing levels in each district to make sure each has enough staff to meet its needs without having any excesses,” Sarche said.
Next week, Chief Justice Mary Mullarkey and State Court Administrator Jerry Marroney will testify at a hearing to answer questions the JBC has about the budget proposals. The committee will work with the rest of the legislature to come up with a budget for the next fiscal year.
In July, Marroney floated the idea of a limited, temporary increase in court fees to help make up for budget shortfalls and eliminate the need for layoffs. The General Assembly would have to pass and Ritter sign legislation for a fee increase next year. It is not known whether Marroney will address a possible fee increase at next week’s hearing.
