Judicial branch presses for trial-court operations, facility dollars and higher pay for court-appointed appellate counsel

Shelley Curran, Administrative Director of the Judicial Council, and other judicial branch leaders outlined budget priorities for trial courts, courthouses and appellate operations and asked the subcommittee to support proposals in the governor’s budget.

Curran said the governor proposed $70 million for trial court operations, $11 million to increase appointed counsel pay in appellate panels and $135.5 million for courthouse construction and facilities. Judge Anne Mormon and court executive Kate Beaker described rising operating costs (including supply-chain and retirement pressures) and stressed that stable, predictable funding is needed to prevent reductions to core services.

Justice Laurie Earl, speaking for the courts of appeal, asked the committee to convert temporary appellate staffing into ongoing positions to prevent a backlog as temporary funding expires. Justice Earl also outlined an $11 million ongoing general fund request that would fund a $25-per-hour increase for appellate panel attorneys and raise Supreme Court capital-counsel compensation to $180 per hour, steps she said are necessary to recruit and retain experienced counsel.

Committee members pressed for detailed facility needs and asked the Department of Finance and Judicial Council to provide the subcommittee with updated infrastructure estimates; a Department of Finance staffer said a prior estimate identified roughly $22.5 billion to start 68 projects and $29.4 billion to complete remaining projects over a 10-year horizon (figures flagged as not yet adjusted for the budget). Members and public commenters urged retaining the $25/hour panel increase in the governor’s budget and additional funding for project-based appellate programs that provide training and supervision.

Public commenters from multiple appellate projects described long waits for counsel and urged the committee to preserve the panel-rate increase and consider additional project funding so newly recruited attorneys receive necessary training. The subcommittee requested further documentation and outreach from the branches and agencies before moving budget decisions.