TRENTON — For the second year in a row, Gov. Chris Christie’s budget cuts will reach into the state’s courthouses, forcing judges and their staffs to tighten their belts and delay plans for modernization. While the $25 million cut was expected, a spokeswoman for the judicial branch said Thursday the reductions would take their toll on day-to-day functions at...
A file photo of the New Jersey Supreme Court. Budget cuts this year have chopped an additional $25 million from the state's judicial branch, a decision that could delay technical upgrades and decrease training for new hires.TRENTON — For the second year in a row, Gov. Chris Christie’s budget cuts will reach into the state’s courthouses, forcing judges and their staffs to tighten their belts and delay plans for modernization.
While the $25 million cut was expected, a spokeswoman for the judicial branch said Thursday the reductions would take their toll on day-to-day functions at the state Supreme Court, the appellate courts and Superior Courts across New Jersey.
All those who work for the courts will have to cut corners just as the many state agencies and programs that were scaled back this year.
At the courts, computer upgrades will be delayed, new hires will have less training, and there will not be as much money to cover judges’ travel expenses or to pay for copies of legal documents, the spokeswoman, Winnie Comfort, said.
"Was it cause for concern? Yes," Comfort said. "We have been managing with budget reductions over the past few years and we’re going to have to continue."
In recent years, judges have been switching from paper to computerized records to try to better handle their heavy case loads and to give the public greater access. But the transition will be stalled this year because up to $3 million budgeted for new office equipment and upgrades was sacrificed.
"We certainly had to put things off and the computer systems is one of them," Comfort said.
Andy Pratt, a spokesman for the state Treasury, said the $25 million was lopped from the courts to balance the books in a tough economic climate. Last year, the judicial branch’s budget was cut by $31.7 million, Comfort said.
"The budget still has to be put into balance and priorities are shifted every single year based on the need and the allocation of resources," Pratt said. "There’s a lot of competition for resources."
While the governor cut $25 million, he also relieved the judiciary from financing drug courts by itself, and a rehabilitation program for youthful offenders was shifted to another agency. Those changes freed up $4.5 million, and the courts kept $10 million left from last year’s budget allocation.
Comfort said the cut in funds will also be offset through attrition as staff members leave and are not replaced, and the courts are counting on some judicial vacancies not being filled to help make up the shortfall.
By Salvador Rizzo and MaryAnn Spoto/Statehouse Bureau Staff
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