JQC director seeks investigators, security funds and litigation support as complaints surge

Courtney Bridal, director of the Judicial Qualifications Commission, told the subcommittee the commission's caseload has increased sharply and the agency needs more staff and security support to fulfill its oversight role.

Bridal said the commission's annual complaints climbed from about 500 to 2,083 and that the number of complaints investigated rose roughly 27% year over year. She described current staffing as three attorneys (including herself) and a single investigator, and requested a second full-time investigator to allow investigators to divide front-end screening work and complex out-of-office evidence collection. "We are in need of a second investigator," Bridal said, noting that investigative duties require travel and in-person witness interviews.

Bridal also requested $50,000 for security partnerships to pay off-duty officers when meetings or trials present safety concerns and described large increases in court-reporting expenses tied to litigation, with court-reporting costs rising from about $4,175 in FY25 to more than $51,955 in FY26.

On staffing, Bridal asked for an additional attorney to bring prosecutorial and litigation capacity to four attorneys total. She compared the JQC to recently funded agencies and said her jurisdiction covers about 1,600 judges plus judicial candidates and pro tem judges.

Committee members asked for the basis of the security estimate and Bridal said the $50,000 figure was a planning estimate based on monthly meetings and recent trials. She said the commission regularly holds meetings across the state and sometimes must secure off-duty officers or other protections. The committee did not vote; Bridal said she could provide additional cost and contractor information on court reporting and conflict-defense contracts if requested.