Oregon Judicial Department warns 10% cut would force layoffs, court closures; seeks $1.23 billion for 2025–27

The Public Safety Subcommittee heard on Feb. 26 that the Oregon Judicial Department(OJD) is seeking $1.23 billion for the 2025—27 biennium to maintain court operations, prevent staff layoffs and address courthouse safety and technology shortfalls. Jessica Roser, Assistant Deputy State Court Administrator for Operations, told the committee the departmentmost of its costs are people: "most of our costs, almost 84% are in our people, judges and staff, which is why it's very difficult to absorb any cuts to our budget."

The request is filed as House Bill 5012, described at the hearing as the Judicial Department's primary budget measure. OJD presented a current service level (CSL) figure of $893,900,000 across all funds and said the Chief Justice's recommended budget for the 2025—27 biennium is $1,230,000,000. The department said the recommended package would increase general-fund support for judicial compensation, operations, mandated pass-throughs and technology.

Nancy Kozine, State Court Administrator, told the committee cutting OJD's budget would have outsized effects because 23% of the department's spending (judicial compensation, debt service and DAS surcharges) is legally or practically protected from reductions, forcing any mandated cuts onto the remaining operations budget. "We are now facing so many mounting pressures that budget cuts are simply not possible without creating great harm," Kozine said. She and Roser said a 10% cut to the…