DeKalb Superior Court asks commissioners to restore $254,000 in IT funding and add $15,000 for senior judges

Judge Shondina Morris told the DeKalb County Finance, Audit and Budget Committee that the Superior Court is asking the board to reallocate $254,000 — currently slated to go to County IT — back to the court to cover computer software, equipment and related services for court operations, and to add $15,000 to return senior‑judge funding to $100,000.

Morris highlighted 2025 results, saying the circuit formally became “the DeKalb Judicial Circuit” on Jan. 1, 2025, and that court restorations last year improved access to justice by funding court reporters and interpreters. She told the committee Superior Court closed 15,861 cases last year across all divisions and noted “with only 10 Superior Court judges in DeKalb County…we closed across all divisions 15,861 cases.” She also cited investments in judicial security, a renovated parking deck funded by SPLOST and upgraded cameras as operational improvements.

The request is intended to support technology that can back up proceedings when court reporters are scarce and to maintain Odyssey/Tyler‑based systems used across courthouse stakeholders. On senior judges, Morris said retired judges designated by the governor help run additional courtrooms and move backlogs; she described the $15,000 ask as restoring funding the court had previously received.

Commissioners asked for a line‑item spreadsheet to reconcile the totals and to confirm whether the $254,000 would be used primarily for hardware, software, licensing or a mix. Commissioner Michelle Long Spears said the requests seemed “modest and reasonable,” and the committee asked staff to include detailed budget lines for consideration before the final special call.