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Monday, October 10, 2005
Ind. Courts - STAR supports Increased state funding for more Marion County judicial officers
Last Tuesaday the Indianapolis Star had a story about Marion County's request for eight more judges. (See ILB entry here.) Today the Star has an editorial titled "Short on justice for Marion County." It begins:
Our position: Increased state funding for more Marion County judicial officers is more than justified.According to figures recently given to Indiana's Commission on Courts, if Marion County received similar state funding to other urban counties, it could add an additional 25 judicial positions.
It also could receive a similar increase in judges and magistrates if the county's caseload was similar to other Indiana counties' -- 24 additional judges if weighted caseload adjustments are used.That's why the county's request for state funding of just four additional judges and four additional magistrates seems so reasonable.
Although Marion Circuit and Superior courts handle nearly 16 percent of the cases filed in Indiana, only 10 percent of the state's judges and magistrates preside over them. The state funds only 60 percent of the costs of judges and magistrates in Marion County, compared to 80 percent in Lake County and 100 percent in Allen and St. Joseph counties.
This inequity puts an unfair burden on local property taxpayers and recently led to a local-option income tax increase to fund a seventh major-felony court. It also makes it more likely that litigation for Marion County residents will be heard by an inexperienced appointed official instead of a full-time judge or magistrate.
Posted by Marcia Oddi on October 10, 2005 06:43 AM
Posted to Indiana Courts