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Probate and DA warn of scheduling disruptions after judge retirement and shift to in‑person hearings
Summary
Probate staff and the district attorney described immediate operational impacts from retirement of a long‑serving judge, a pending judicial appointment and a shift back to primarily in‑person court appearances that will increase transports and scheduling complexity.
Probate department staff and the district attorney told the Law, Justice and Safety Committee that the recent retirement of Judge Andrew Sharp and use of reserved judges will shift many hearings back to in‑person appearances and increase the number of prisoner transports and scheduling demands on county staff.
Probate staff said the court system recently migrated to a state system and that two reserved judges—Judge Jennifer Day and Judge Michael Kuchman—will require in‑person appearances. The probate representative said in‑person settings will be used “just so the jail's aware of that and, transports,” and said reserved judges will travel from other counties, increasing logistical demands.
The district attorney described multiple consequential scheduling issues tied to the use of reserved judges. The DA said reserved judges create uncertainty about whether particular judges will be on the bench for particular hearings, reduce predictability in plea negotiations, and can lead to case substitutions when a new full‑time judge is appointed. The DA also explained the governor’s judicial selection committee process and described an expected May 9 payroll date for the new judicial appointment, but noted uncertainty about how long reserve judges will remain in place.
Committee members asked about courtroom security staffing, the sheriff’s coordination with transports and how in‑person appearances would impact municipal schedules across neighboring counties. Probate staff asked for patience during a brief period of reduced paperwork speed while staff learn the new state case‑management system.
Committee members did not take formal action on court staffing but instructed staff to continue coordinating schedules with law enforcement and to notify sheriffs and transport teams in advance of scheduled in‑person sessions.
