Just as Democrats did nearly eight years ago to the day during a previous fiscal crisis, House Republican Minority Leader Themis Klarides called April 22 for a halt to any new judicial appointments because the state cannot afford to fund the positions.
Gov. Dannel P. Malloy has named 30 people for judgeships, each one at an annual cost of $291,410, not including fringe benefits. Chief Court Administrator Patrick Clifford III has said due to cutbacks and retirements, there is not enough staff or funding to support 30 new judges. The Judiciary Committee is set to vote on judges today.
“Clearly we do not have enough available funds, staff or even caseloads to justify putting 30 more people on the bench. This is not about whether these nominees are qualified, although each one must be thoroughly vetted,’’ Klarides said. “This is about getting our state’s budget straight and not committing to massive new funding levels that are unsustainable and don’t make sense for the Judicial Department.’’
On April 21, 2010, 90 Democratic House members appealed to then Speaker Chris Donovan to delay any votes on judges, saying the court system could not afford them. Rell only wanted to appoint 10 at the time, her last batch before leaving office. Malloy similarly is looking at the last appointments before he leaves.
Carroll in an April 18 letter to Klarides said, “Court monitors, temporary assistant clerks and judicial marshals are all under minimum staffing levels because of budget constraints. Very often courts cannot go into session or are delayed because of staff changes.’’
Eight years ago, then Judiciary Chairman Michael Lawlor warned, “[The nominees] will not be approved by the House of Representatives until the budget issues are addressed.’’
There is a deficit in the current fiscal year, a larger deficit projected for next year, and Connecticut is facing a multi-billion-dollar shortfall when the next governor and legislature are seated in 2019.
Carroll also pointed out that caseloads across the spectrum, from civil to criminal, family, small claims and juvenile, have decreased over the last five years. Some courthouses have a single judge on hand at times.
“Cases are down, staffing is below minimum required levels, the state is facing huge deficits and revenue is volatile,’’ Klarides said. “Simply put, we cannot afford 30 more judges right now.’’