Year after year Minnesota courts have found themselves in a situation in which they have had to do more with less.
Increases in crimes and state mandates have created more work while budget deficits have seen the state cut back on court administrators and other positions who assist in dealing with the extra load.
This past year, the legislature considered cutting the state courts funding by seven percent before thanking better of it when it came to finalize the budget. However, the idea of the reduction illustrates the state’s desire to find cost savings, which may have a major impact on Yellow Medicine and the associated 13 Eighth Judicial District counties as one potential cost saving involves a reduction in judges.
While judges won’t be fired, there’s the possibility that a seat may not be refilled if vacated.
With the departure of Judge Bruce Christopherson as of December 31, this is a very real potential facing the Yellow Medicine County and in the coming months the state Supreme Court will be deciding on what it will do with the vacated seat.
Christopherson listed five potential courses of action by the Supreme Court:
•They could refill the position.
•Move it outside of Yellow Medicine to another county within the Eighth District.
•Move it into another county outside the Eighth District.
•They could eliminate the position entirely.
•Or they may delay their decision and hold the position open indefinitely.
With the state’s ongoing debt, changes are coming, it’s just a matter of what they will be.
Christopherson gave his assurance that the courts will continue to function, but said that cases may be taken in a priority ranking, and that there may be extremely long periods of time that elapse before some cases get to court.
District Eight Chief Judge Paul Nelson, said that a request has been issued to the Supreme Court to refill the seat in Yellow Medicine County and that a decision is expected in three to four months.
“Things are in a fairly significant state of uncertainly for all of us,” Nelson said. But he added that he could take solace in the idea that Christopherson can assist the courts as a senior judge even after his retirement.
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Year after year Minnesota courts have found themselves in a situation in which they have had to do more with less.
Increases in crimes and state mandates have created more work while budget deficits have seen the state cut back on court administrators and other positions who assist in dealing with the extra load.
This past year, the legislature considered cutting the state courts funding by seven percent before thanking better of it when it came to finalize the budget. However, the idea of the reduction illustrates the state’s desire to find cost savings, which may have a major impact on Yellow Medicine and the associated 13 Eighth Judicial District counties as one potential cost saving involves a reduction in judges.
While judges won’t be fired, there’s the possibility that a seat may not be refilled if vacated.
With the departure of Judge Bruce Christopherson as of December 31, this is a very real potential facing the Yellow Medicine County and in the coming months the state Supreme Court will be deciding on what it will do with the vacated seat.
Christopherson listed five potential courses of action by the Supreme Court:
•They could refill the position.
•Move it outside of Yellow Medicine to another county within the Eighth District.
•Move it into another county outside the Eighth District.
•They could eliminate the position entirely.
•Or they may delay their decision and hold the position open indefinitely.
With the state’s ongoing debt, changes are coming, it’s just a matter of what they will be.
Christopherson gave his assurance that the courts will continue to function, but said that cases may be taken in a priority ranking, and that there may be extremely long periods of time that elapse before some cases get to court.
District Eight Chief Judge Paul Nelson, said that a request has been issued to the Supreme Court to refill the seat in Yellow Medicine County and that a decision is expected in three to four months.
“Things are in a fairly significant state of uncertainly for all of us,” Nelson said. But he added that he could take solace in the idea that Christopherson can assist the courts as a senior judge even after his retirement.
