Judiciary requests magistrates, continues court-technology overhaul funded by ARPA

The Judicial Branch told the Joint Finance Preparation Committee on Thursday, Jan. 23, that it is continuing a multi-year court-technology overhaul funded largely by ARPA State Fiscal Recovery funds, and is seeking new judicial resources — including magistrates in Twin Falls and Bonneville counties — to address rising caseloads and travel-related lost judicial time.

The matter is central to court operations statewide: the Administrative Office of the Courts described cybersecurity risks that prompted infrastructure upgrades, ARPA-funded work that remains under contract and not yet paid out, and an ongoing need for judges in specific districts to reduce delays and travel burdens.

Keith Bybee, Division Manager of Budget Policy Analysis, reviewed court appropriations and said the Court Technology Fund — primarily financed by court filing fees — showed a 29% year-over-year increase in collections tied to higher filings, including forfeitures and civil actions. Bybee also noted the courts received roughly $19.9 million in ARPA State Fiscal Recovery Fund appropriations in prior biennia to modernize technology, and that about 50.75 FTP supporting court technology were shifted from the Court Technology Fund to the general fund in a prior funding action.

Sarah Omanson, administrative director of courts, described the modernization and…