State's Attorneys and Sheriffs press lawmakers for budget fixes as caseloads rise

Tim Leers, presenting for the Department of State's Attorneys and Sheriffs, told the House Judiciary Committee on Feb. 13 that the department is facing mounting operational and staffing pressures tied to caseload and transportation demands. He said the department now has about 22,000 pending dockets statewide and urged lawmakers to remove vacancy‑savings targets and add operating dollars to avoid layoffs and preserve services.

Leers said the department has seen a reduction from a 2023 peak but still faces concentrated demand: "We are now at 22,000 cases," he told the committee, and "the 3 or more group takes up about 44% of all pending dockets." He highlighted increases in trial‑date utilization but warned that serious violent cases — including homicides — and high‑volume defendants continue to consume disproportionate resources.

Why it matters: the department said shortages and cost pressures are affecting prosecutors, victim advocates and the state transport program, with consequences for trial scheduling, victim services and timely case resolution. Leers told the…