Courts press to keep State v. Blake funding as vacatur work continues

Multiple presenters told the committee that implementation of State v. Blake and the related vacatur-and-refund work remains an active, multi-year effort that requires sustained funding.

"Blake is not finished. It is not. It's far from over," said Trish Kimlow of the District and Municipal Court Management Association, urging continued resources for AOC's vacatur unit. Christopher Stanley reported certified clerk claims of about $35,000,000 and said many additional claims remain unfiled in AOC's system.

Why it matters: vacatur/resentence work requires staff time, courtroom capacity and outreach to affected people; presenters said the most complex claims remain and that outreach to locate claimants will continue to be expensive.

Court and legal-aid representatives recommended maintaining the current administrative vacatur unit and pass-through funding that helps local courts process claims and manage resentencings. "If their email is still valid, great. They they they file their claim and they get their money," Stanley said of AOC's ongoing claimant outreach.