Panel Considers Options to Ease Growing Burden on Courts
A state judicial commission responsible for redrawing judicial districts has released a slate of proposals aimed at making the court system better able to handle its growing caseload. But in the end, the commission's work may only underscore the need for more judges, not judicial redistricting.
The commission will review six proposals drafted by its members when it reconvenes April 6 at the state Capitol. At least one proposal would increase the number of districts by one to 23. But none of the proposals calls for adding more judges, despite recent studies that suggest at least 21 more judges are needed.
The legislature established the panel last year to study if realigning the state's 22 judicial districts might ease the pressure partly caused by the growth in drug cases.