Judge: consolidated trial calendar moved 300+ serious cases but funding constraints reduce cadence

Superior Court Judge Robert McBurney described the consolidated criminal trial calendar as a mechanism for prioritizing long‑staying cases and said the program has moved "over 300 serious violent felonies." He told the board that the original cadence and senior‑judge staffing were supported by ARPA funds that have since expired.

McBurney said the calendar was conceived during the pandemic to concentrate trials and free up dockets, and that a senior judge and litigation manager would make the calendar sustainable. "If we had a judge full time, meaning 2 weeks every month, plus a litigation manager... we'd be under $250,000 to continue to move these old serious violent felonies," he said. Commissioners and staff discussed potential resource tradeoffs and the district attorney's need for additional staffing to avoid operational strain when consolidated sessions run.

The board debated whether the calendar could be accelerated and what staffing or space constraints (courtroom availability, ADA resources) would be needed to increase throughput. McBurney cautioned that expanding frequency would require careful coordination with the DA and public defender offices because their attorneys might be needed in multiple places.