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How State Funding Benefited the Trial Courts
ver the past decade, the California court system has experienced several fundamental
changes that have significantly altered the face of the judiciary and the way the courts conduct business. These changes included trial court unification, the Trial Court Employment Protection and Governance Act, the one-day or one-trial jury system, and the Trial Court Facilities Act of 2002. But perhaps none has had a greater impact than Assembly Bill 233, the Lockyer-Isenberg Trial Court Funding Act of 1997. This landmark legislation resulted in the consolidation of funding for the trial courts at the state level after years of advocacy by bench and bar leaders and, particularly, Chief Justice Ronald M. George. This restructuring of court funding was intended to:
• Provide stable, consistent funding for the courts • Promote fiscal responsibility and accountability by managing resources in the most efficient and effective manner
• Recognize that the state is primarily responsible for funding the courts, enabling the courts, state, and counties to better engage in long-term planning
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• Enhance equal access to justice by removing disparities resulting from the varying ability of individual counties to meet the operating needs of the courts Have the goals been met? From a simple budgetary standpoint, the numbers speak for themselves. In the past 10 years, trial court funding has nearly doubled, from $1.67 billion in January 1998 to well over $3 billion today. Recent milestones, such as the uniform civil fee structure and the implementation of state appropriations limit (SAL) funding, have further enhanced equal access to the courts and stable, ongoing funding. In addition, because of the trial court funding act, trial courts are unique in state government in that they have the authority to carry over funds from year to year.
California Courts Review