AOC says Supreme Court‑approved reorganization will cut operating costs without cutting services

Zach Ramsey, Director of the Administrative Office of the Courts (AOC), told the Budget Review Subcommittee on Justice and Judiciary on July 1 that the AOC is implementing a statewide reorganization to reduce operating expenses while maintaining frontline services.

"the reorganization process was directed by the Chief Justice, but involved all leaders within the AOC, to formulate a plan that was ultimately approved by the Supreme Court," Ramsey said, describing the mandate and approval path for the changes. Debbie Hall, Director of the Office of Statewide Programs at the AOC, said the plan includes reductions in supervisory layers and creation of a single regional administrator to provide frontline support for larger regions.

Committee members pressed for timing and operational detail. Hall said participant counts — a key driver of program costs — remain about "2,500 to 3,000 at any given time," and that if that level holds the department expects to remain within current budget constraints. Ramsey said the AOC is conducting daily planning sessions ahead of an August 1 implementation date and that staff will provide more information after August 1.

Why it matters: the reorganization affects how court support services are managed across counties and is intended to produce near‑term budget savings without reducing services for judges, clerks or participants. The subcommittee did not take formal action on the reorganization during the meeting.