Furloughs for court employees are no longer anticipated, an unprecedented judicial hiring freeze is being lifted and the Utah Judicial Council next month plans to discuss ending a staff hiring freeze.
"The Legislature has treated us very well," state court administrator Daniel Becker told the council on Monday.
Three months ago, Utah Supreme Court Chief Justice Christine Durham told lawmakers early in the session that proposed budget cuts would force furloughs of all court employees for five workweeks -- a move that would have meant closing courthouses one day a week.
Court officials succeeded in their push to raise court filing fees as a way to generate income. Legislation passed last week is expected to raise nearly $1.5 million for the courts in fiscal 2009 from increased civil filing fees, and should produce more than $11 million in additional revenue during fiscal 2010 and beyond.
The courts would also be receiving more than $3 million annually from funds generated by two other bills passed by lawmakers. One bill would increase filing fees for small-claims lawsuits; the other bill would add a security surcharge to all criminal convictions and juvenile delinquency judgments.
In spite of the good news, the courts plan to cut 52 staff positions and lay off 18 state-employed court reporters by the end of June.
The announcement that judicial vacancies would remain unfilled came in December, coinciding with the retirement of Utah Appeals Court Judge Judith Billings. Meanwhile, three district court judges have announced plans to retire.
Third District Judge Sheila McCleve will retire July 1; 4th District Judge Gary Stott on July 1; and 8th District Judge John Anderson on Sept. 1.
