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District court seeks larger share of tri‑county budget; justice court requests security improvements
Summary
Lander County's portion of the tri‑county district court budget rose by $139,533 in the tentative budget — largely to add a full‑time clerk and cover higher salaries, insurance and jury costs — while the Argenta justice court asked to reserve up to $50,000 in court funds for bullet‑resistant glass and scanner upkeep; commissioners asked for detailed line‑item backups and redacted threat documentation before acting on security.
Judge Bryce Shields, speaking for the 11th Judicial District, asked commissioners on March 25 to approve Lander County’s portion of a proposed district court increase: $139,533 attributable primarily to salary and benefits adjustments, a planned new full‑time clerk in Lander County, and a modest jury‑trial contingency.
Shields told the panel that last year’s district court budget would not have covered a single jury trial and said the court added budget capacity to avoid being underfunded if a long or complex case occurs. The increase will be split across the three counties that share the 11th Judicial District; Lander County’s share was presented as $139,533. Commission members asked the judge and county finance staff for a written, line‑by‑line breakdown of the requested increase; staff agreed to produce that backup before final budget adoption.
Separately, the Argenta justice court judge requested authorization to use court‑generated funds (fees collected by the court) to improve front‑line security. The judge described a small series of documented threats against judicial officers and staff submitted to the Administrative Office of the Courts (AOC) and asked for up to $50,000 to install bullet‑resistant glass at public service counters, update metal detectors and maintain security‑scanner hardware. Commissioners expressed support for protecting personnel but asked the judge to provide redacted copies of the AOC threat documentation and firm vendor quotes (including labor) before approving any expenditure. The board tabled the security item pending those materials.
Commissioners voted to advance the district court increase in the tentative budget subject to the requested breakdown being provided. The justice‑court security request will return to the board when the judge provides the redacted records and cost estimates.
