Judicial Division → Publications → Judges' Journal → Summer 2004

Judges' Journal Summer 2004, Vol. 43, No. 3 Balancing Judicial Independence and Fiscal Accountability in Times of Economic Crisis Provides an overview of court funding problems. Emphasizes that cutbacks in court funding can threaten judicial independence and limit access to justice. Includes principles to help courts cope with current and future budget turndowns. By: Daniel J. Hall, Robert W. Tobin, and Kenneth G. Pankey Jr. State Funding of Trial Courts: What We Know Now Analyzes the trend of shifting trial court funding to the states. Notes the importance of active judicial branch management of the process. By: John K. Hudzik and Alan Carlson Ensuring Adequate Long-Term Funding for Courts: Recommendations from the ABA Commission on State Court Funding Discusses the work of the American Bar Association's Commission on State Court Funding. Presents a summation of the Commission's recommendations. By: Justice Joseph P. Nadeau Potential Court Responses to Budget Reductions Outlines possible responses to cutback requests, including refusal, acquiescence, and proposal of new alternatives. By: Dennis B. Jones New York's Efforts to Secure Sufficient Court Resources in Lean Times Describes how the New York courts have attempted to preserve judicial budgets and the innovative programs that those funds support. Stresses the role of transparent budget, consistent priorities, and firm confrontation, if needed. By: Hon. Jonathan Lippman Finding Revenue in Hard Times: The Michigan Judiciary's Approach Explains how Michigan courts coped with budget shortfalls by reforming the process for assessing, collecting, and allocating assessments, costs, and fees at local trial courts. By: Justice Maura D. Corrigan Changing the Judicial Budget Process in Kansas Presents the Kansas judiciary's response to funding problems: an emergency surcharge on most court filings. By: Hon. Christel E. Marquardt Working with the Legislature During the Court Appropriations Process Gives insight into the factors that may affect the budget appropriations process. Reinforces the importance of telling stories to illustrate the court's importance; presenting updated, thoughtful budgets; and advocating for court budgets throughout the year. By: John M. Greacen Making the Case for Court Funding: The Important Role of Lobbying Draws on a fifty-state survey to suggest that key types of lobbying can help courts protect and increase their budgets. By: James W. Douglas and Roger E. Hartley Court Budget Strategies: Stewardship, Accountability, and Partnership in Maricopa County Relates the experiences of courts in Maricopa County (Phoenix), Arizona, which have faced severe budget constraints in the face of growing population pressures. By: Marcus W. Reinkensmeyer Cutting Costs Through Collaboration and Competition Explores specific cost-cutting moves for courts. Offers successful strategies based on the principles of collaboration and competition. By: Rhonda Van Dyke ABA Judicial Clerkship Program Inspired by Brown's Call for Opportunity Describes the ABA's Judicial Clerkship Program, which encourages minority law students to apply for judicial clerkships. Notes the Program's techniques of simulating the clerkship experience for prospective applicants. By: Justice Frank Sullivan Jr. Departments Judicial Ethics Can Judges Raise Funds for the Courts? Explores the ethical ramifications of direct judicial involvement in court revenue efforts. Outlines the ethical limits under Canon 4C. By: Marla N. Greenstein Judicial Outreach Finding Common Ground between Governmental Branches: The Pennsylvania Commonwealth Partners Program Describes a Pennsylvania program designed to bring judges and legislators together in informal settings. Discusses the methods used to plan and organize the meetings. By: Hon. Jack A. Panella   If you would like to receive the full Judges' Journal by mail each quarter, you must be an active member of the ABA's Judicial Division. To join, please visit the website for the association's Membership Department.