Judicial resource study finds Gallatin County needs more judges; courts recommend reweighting baseline

The court administrator presented the 2025 judicial resource needs (workload) study to the interim committee, saying the product uses National Center for State Courts methodology to translate case filings and judge time into staffing recommendations.

Dave McAlpin said the court system uses a weighted methodology with 13 case types and time categories derived from judge time studies. He explained that the 2022 baseline still contains COVID‑era effects — particularly remote hearings — and recommended reweighting the baseline in 2027 so the legislature and budget committees receive clearer 2028 numbers.

The study’s initial results place the 18th Judicial District (Gallatin County) at the top of the need list, where analysts estimate two additional judges would address the court’s civil docket growth. McAlpin noted local innovations — such as split civil/criminal dockets and the use of standing masters in some districts — can change efficiencies and should be evaluated as part of reweighting.

McAlpin said the study is a tool to guide, not dictate, funding requests; he cited the previous session when the judiciary requested three judges for Billings and received two. The administrator said staff will continue analysis and return with finer breakdowns by case type.

The committee did not act on the study at this meeting but heard that reweighting in 2027 is under consideration.