County family‑court administrators highlight mediation, self‑help kiosk and interpreter needs in 2026 budget

Court administrative staff and judges briefed Butler County commissioners about several operational investments intended to improve access to justice and reduce contested courtroom time.

New services and impact: Court administrators said the courts moved a formerly grant-funded mediation service into the operating budget after the pilot showed benefits: staff and judges reported that mediation reduces the length and cost of high‑conflict family cases and can turn multi‑day hearings into shorter sessions. The court has a self‑help kiosk available to self‑represented litigants and updated its website to provide forms and information.

Interpreters and e‑filing: Administrators said the Supreme Court’s language line remains a useful tool but that some lengthy hearings require live, in‑person interpreters — a recurring cost pressure. The court is coordinating with the clerk of courts on e‑filing progress and said improving remote hearing authentication and participant verification remains an active operational question.

Staffing and budget posture: Court leaders said staffing levels are mostly stable; recent hires filled many open positions, and the court moved some services to operating budgets after federal grants ended. The court requested only cost‑of‑living adjustments in its 2026 submission and said it was not asking for additional permanent FTEs this year.

Ending: Administrators asked commissioners to note interpreter costs and asked for continued collaboration on technology upgrades and courthouse security configuration work.