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State courts ask for funds to standardize case management systems, courthouse and security upgrades
Summary
Eric McClure, state courts administrator, presented the judicial branch’s fiscal 2026–27 requests to the Senate committee, prioritizing statewide case‑management technology, additional case managers and funding for a courthouse for the Sixth District Court of Appeal, plus security and elevator repairs for Supreme Court facilities.
Eric McClure, the state courts administrator, told the Senate Appropriations Committee that the judicial branch’s legislative budget request prioritizes a foundational, statewide level of case‑management technology, more case managers for trial courts and several appellate and Supreme Court needs.
McClure said the first and top trial‑court priority is funding to provide “a foundational level of technology” for case management across Florida’s judicial circuits. He described variation in local systems and models and said the branch is pursuing an initial, two‑year strategy to align circuits that currently use multiple systems. The request included 47 FTE and about $27 million (as described in the presentation) to support staff, contractors, hardware and networking services.
Why it matters: McClure said electronic filing and integrated workflows make case‑management systems indispensable to judges and court staff. He framed the request as closing statewide inequities created when counties historically funded communications and certain technology functions.
Other priorities listed - Case managers: The judicial branch requested 48 new case managers for trial courts to improve case readiness and scheduling. - Appellate needs and Sixth DCA courthouse: McClure said the Sixth District Court of Appeal, authorized in 2022 and operating from leased spaces in Lakeland and Maitland, needs a permanent courthouse; site acquisition authority was funded previously and the branch expects to request construction funds in a supplemental legislative budget request. - Supreme Court and facilities: The Supreme Court seeks $1 million nonrecurring to replace three elevators — two dating to 1948 — and nonrecurring funds to upgrade surveillance systems. - Judicial security and Fusion Center liaison: The branch requested two FTE in the Supreme Court Marshals Office to serve as liaisons with the Florida Fusion Center to centralize threat information and to provide risk‑assessment services for judges and judicial staff. - Personnel and management: Requests include authority to expand Senior Management Service (SMS) designations (modeled on legislative authority to designate certain positions) and a competitive salary adjustment for district and trial court judges.
Context and background McClure thanked the legislature for authorizing 39 new judges in 2025 and described the branch’s collaborative budget process with judicial conferences. He said the branch intends a supplemental LBR for a new courthouse for the Sixth DCA (site acquisition work is underway) and may file other supplemental requests (e.g., judgeship certifications) later in the fall.
Questions and follow‑up Senators asked about the proposed Fusion Center liaisons’ duties; McClure said the liaisons would be sworn marshals who would both push threat information to the Fusion Center and provide risk assessments and training to judges and staff. Committee members also discussed courthouse security and the timing of supplemental requests for construction funds.
Ending McClure closed by reiterating the branch’s priorities and offering to answer follow‑up questions as senators review the proposed LBR items.
