March 2, 2012

Chief Justices Deliver Testimony to Joint Committee on Ways and Means

Supreme Judicial Court Chief Justice Roderick L. Ireland, Appeals Court Chief Justice Phillip Rapoza, and Trial Court Chief Justice for Administration & Management Robert A. Mulligan presented testimony February 28th to the Joint Committee on Ways and Means on Fiscal Year 2013 funding for the Judicial Branch.

The hearing, co-chaired by Senator Gale D. Candaras and Representatives Benjamin Swan and Angelo J. Puppolo, Jr. was held at Springfield Technical Community College in Springfield.

The Chief Justices addressed the severe reductions in personnel throughout the Judicial Branch.  They emphasized the need for adequate resources to serve the public and praised the commitment of court employees to deliver justice under very challenging circumstances.

Chief Justice Mulligan submitted written testimony to the committee and focused his comments on specific examples of the challenges faced daily in courthouses statewide as a result of the fiscal crisis.  Chief Justice Mulligan emphasized the need for full authority over the appropriation and requested a direct appropriation without retained revenue accounts.  He also emphasized the importance of retaining Probation within the Judiciary.

The report, Justice in the Balance: Budget Overview of the Massachusetts Judiciary for the Legislature, also was provided to committee members as a resource to assist their deliberations.  It presents an overview of court resources and the many ways courts impact the public. 

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

Links:

>>>  Chief Justice Ireland's Testimony

>>>  Chief Justice Rapoza's Testimony

>>>  Chief Justice Mulligan's Testimony

>>>  2012 Justice in the Balance

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