Senate Journal: Page 57: Wednesday, January 15, 2003
education programs are on hold. But we’re always searching for alternative resources
to fill the gap, and we’ve had some success with that.
Our Court Improvement Program has provided some federal funds for several
juvenile law conferences. Also, thanks to the efforts of Jerry Beatty, our Director of
Education, federal traffic safety funds are available to cover the cost of a judges’
program. In addition, Jennifer Juhler, our Domestic Abuse Coordinator, with the help
of a substantial federal grant, has developed a web-based training program for judicial
magistrates. This innovative program will serve as a model for future efforts.
Unquestionably, we have a duty to the taxpayers to carefully manage the resources
you provide us, and to that end, we are doing everything in our power to operate as
efficiently as possible and to channel available resources to meet our most pressing
needs. Certainly, we want to be part of the solution, but the quick fixes and band-aids
will not sustain the courts indefinitely. We need to implement lasting solutions, and
we must do so now. Otherwise we will be unable to fulfill our mission to the people.
Searching for Solutions
The Judicial Branch must take full advantage of the benefits of state funding-
system uniformity, economies of scale, and shifting resources to areas where they are
most needed. Along that line, we have embarked on an ambitious effort to examine
every component of our trial court operations to identify best practices, streamline
procedures, develop or update staffing formulas, and achieve uniformity throughout
the state, as much as possible.
The Supreme Court has established four committees to spearhead this effort. The
committees are composed of court employees, judges, and attorneys-the people who are
actually doing the work. There are two separate studies underway involving the
operations of clerk of court offices: one to update the clerks’ staffing formula, and
another to identify management strategies and best business practices aimed at
improving the operation of the clerks’ offices within the current statutory framework
and funding levels. Another committee is studying similar issues concerning the
operation of our juvenile court offices. Shortly, a fourth committee will study the
operation of district court administration. We look forward to receiving their
recommendations for efficiencies and improvements.
Legislative Solutions: Streamlining the Courts
Although the judicial branch is an independent and separate branch of government,
we do not work in a vacuum. By constitutional design, the three branches of
government, in differing roles, contribute to the administration of justice. Our role is
to promptly but carefully decide cases according to law, equally to all people. But it is
up to you, the legislature and the governor, to provide the tools and resources we need
to carry out these enormous responsibilities.
As you can see, we are doing our part to watch expenses and operate within our
budget constraints. With your help, we can do more. We have many sound ideas for
statutory changes that would reduce costs, improve services, and enable us to do more
with our existing resources. These include allowing one clerk of court to manage more
than one office, realigning district court judges through attrition, delaying the filling of
judicial vacancies for budgetary reasons, eliminating outdated statutory duties, and
streamlining a multitude of procedures.
© 2003 Cornell College and
League of Women Voters of Iowa
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