NCJ Number
80277
Journal
Journal of the Missouri Bar Volume: 36 Issue: 8 Dated: (December 1980) Pages: 510-519
Date Published
1980
Length
10 pages
Annotation
State budget requirements occasioned by recent court reform in Missouri are presented and discussed.
Abstract
Legislation passed in the 1970's and the 1980's has greatly influenced Missouri courts. The legislation makes changes in appellate jurisdiction to distribute workload; creates a commission for the retirement, removal, and discipline of judges; restructures the magistrate court system and creates a small claims court; and establishes a new criminal code. In addition, the legislation creates a new constitution which mandates a unified three-tiered court system, establishes a new probate code, and implements State financing of the court system. An overview is given of 1980-81 judicial appropriations and the 1981-82 appropriation request. The budget reflects the system's change as well as increasing workloads at all levels. The total 1981-82 request ($48,328,944) exceeds the current year's appropriations by $17,417,343. While this would appear to show a mushrooming growth of judicial services or bureaucracy, this primarily reflects the cost of absorbing 1,139 circuit court employees currently paid by the counties. The discussion gives particular attention to funding for the Office of State Courts Administrator, the appellate courts, the public defender program, and judicial salaries, as well as the problems involved in moving to a State-funded court system on July 1, 1981.