Judge says shifting family-division caseloads to superior court would reduce access and strain resources

Judge Ellen Christo, administrative judge of the circuit court, told the House Children and Family Law Committee on April 15 that transferring family-division jurisdiction to the superior court would pose significant logistical and access-to-justice challenges.

"If you moved the jurisdiction to superior court you would be diminishing that down to 11 courts instead of 31," Judge Christo said, outlining the geographic and capacity implications of such a change. She was testifying as part of retained consideration of House Bill 652, a measure that would affect family-court jurisdiction.

Judge Christo and Elaine Lowe, clerk and case manager for the third circuit, described the circuit court's existing intake and case-management processes. Lowe explained that the court schedules a telephonic "first appearance" with parties and the case manager, verifies contact information, confirms registration for the child-impact seminar (mandatory when children are involved), and typically sets mediation dates…