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Judicial Council and courts say partial restoration of cuts helped but more general‑fund support needed
Summary
Court leaders told the Assembly subcommittee that a $42 million partial restoration of prior cuts reduced furloughs and allowed limited cybersecurity and staffing work, but courts remain understaffed and need further ongoing funding to restore services and catch up with rising labor costs.
The Assembly Budget Subcommittee No. 6 received testimony on trial court operations funding, where Judicial Council and local court leaders described the effect of a partial restoration in the governor’s budget but urged continued action to prevent further service erosion.
Shelley Curran, Administrative Director of the Judicial Council, thanked the Legislature and administration for the January proposal that partially restored $42 million of a prior $97 million reduction and said that the restoration allowed many courts to reverse furloughs and resume hiring and critical facility work. “We are committed to working with you and the Department of Finance as you finalize the budget,” Curran said.
San Bernardino Presiding Judge Lisa Rogan described the restoration’s operational effects and the continuing gaps. She said courts used funds to address furloughs, fill vacancies and invest in cyber and records operations; San Bernardino estimated it had been roughly 300 positions understaffed at one point and has large paper‑records scanning backlogs. “When you take someone from Target, they don't know our court processes, but we need to train them,” Rogan said, noting that scanning and records modernization reduced storage costs and improved service.
Daryl Parker, Santa Barbara Court Executive Officer, cited cybersecurity investments and staff recruitment challenges. Parker said court employees had taken voluntary unpaid days to help address budget shortfalls and that the partial restoration helped reopen clerk’s office hours in some courts. But he said courts still struggle to compete with county and municipal employers that have recently raised pay and warned of persistent vacancy and retention problems.
The governor’s January budget proposal includes an ongoing $82 million General Fund augmentation for trial courts in 2025–26, consisting of $40 million for increased operating costs plus $42 million to continue the partial restoration. The Legislative Analyst’s Office recommended the Legislature weigh that ongoing commitment against other budget priorities and suggested the Legislature consider guidance on how courts should prioritize any new funds (for example, restoring public‑service hours versus other needs). The LAO also recommended clearer language and notice to the Joint Legislative Budget Committee when funds are shifted from the Trial Court Trust Fund to the General Fund.
Department of Finance representatives said the flexibility in ongoing funding is intentional because each court’s needs differ; Finance acknowledged concerns about legislative oversight and said it would consider LAO recommendations.
No formal vote occurred. Committee members praised court staff and emphasized the need to fund the branch to meet expectations created by new statutes such as Proposition 36.
