Raleigh - Judge Robert H. Hobgood, director of the Administrative Office of the Courts, told Wake County Bar Association members June 5, that drastic measures would have to be taken if the court system is not properly funded.
"I see a shortening of the time courthouses are open, unless we get relief," Hobgood said to more than 300 attorneys, and judges on Tuesday. "At this point, the Judicial Department has been under-funded historically."
Hobgood cited the growing population of North Carolina and how the courts cannot give customer service in an appropriate manner without the technology or personnel to do so. "This inevitably will create a delay in processing of cases," he said.
Executive director of the Wake County Bar Association, Allan B. Head, agreed. "As the rest of the state moves ahead, the court system will be left on the doorstep. Lawyers ought to be outraged at what's happening to the third, co-equal branch of government." Head said it will take lawyers a lot longer in court to process cases, if the state doesn't begin funding the courts properly.
Hobgood said that the senior resident Superior Court judge in Mecklenburg County is considering closing the doors of the courthouse for an hour and a half each morning just to give the clerks time to process the paperwork from the day before. In Cumberland County, clerks work on varying shifts, some starting at 7 a.m. to process paperwork before the doors are open to the public.
Hobgood laid out the most recent budget history, showing how much money has been cut, including last year's promises to fund technology for the courts. In February, despite growing caseloads that have become overwhelming for court personnel to handle, AOC had to revert $3.7 million, plus reduce it's annual budget by $4.1 million in recurring money, and
$4.75 million in non-recurring money. The budget for the next fiscal |
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year includes further reductions. This session, the legislature would not allow AOC to present an expansion budget.
"Why is this important to you," Hobgood asked the crowd. "The heart and soul of the Judicial Branch is the people, the lawyers and the judges who work in the courthouses. You as lawyers are part of this process. The lawyers protect the constitutional rights and liberties of the citizens of North Carolina."
The North Carolina Bar Association adopted a resolution on April 20, recognizing that, "our court system must be accessible to, and serve the needs of North Carolina citizens." The resolution supports the Administrative Office of the Courts, "with its present budgetary crisis and urges its members to support these efforts, particularly through legislative activity, to the fullest."
To read Judge Hobgood's speech, click
here.
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