March 1, 2011

Chief Justices Deliver Testimony to Joint Committee on Ways and Means

Supreme Judicial Court Justice Francis X. Spina, Appeals Court Chief Justice Phillip Rapoza, and Trial Court Chief Justice for Administration & Management Robert A. Mulligan presented testimony Friday, February 25th, to the Joint Committee on Ways and Means on Fiscal Year 2012 funding for the Judicial Branch. Justice Spina, the senior justice of the SJC, spoke on behalf of Chief Justice Roderick L. Ireland who was unable to attend. The hearing, co-chaired by Senator Thomas P. Kennedy and Representatives Michael D. Brady, Christine E. Canavan, and Geraldine M. Creedon, was held at the Massasoit Community College in Brockton.

Justice in the Balance: Budget Overview for the Massachusetts Judiciary, was provided to committee members as a resource to assist their deliberations. The overview highlights the court system's public impact and provides a perspective on court resources. Chief Justice Mulligan referenced the report in his remarks.

Chief Justice Mulligan submitted written testimony to the committee but focused his remarks on specific examples provided by chief justices, judges, clerks and court staff, on the challenges faced daily in courthouses statewide as a result of the fiscal crisis. Justice Spina and Chief Justice Mulligan also emphasized the importance of keeping Probation within the Judiciary. They all emphasized that Trial Court staff at all levels is at a breaking point in terms of managing caseload; they praised the commitment of Judicial Branch employees to deliver justice daily despite very stressful circumstances.

The filed testimony and the Justice in the Balance overview are available at the links below.

>>>  Chief Justice Ireland's Testimony

>>>  Chief Justice Rapoza's Testimony

>>>  Chief Justice Mulligan's Testimony

>>>  Justice in the Balance: Budget Overview for the Massachusetts Judiciary

Return to Home Page