For an adequately funded justice system   “The courts are where the people come when the things that are most important to them – their family, their freedom, their property – the things they treasure most, are threatened. “   Chief Justice Lorie S. Gildea   Thank you for being a member of 1000 Supporters and for your support of Minnesota’s justice system. The MSBA has been working since before the 2011 legislative session started to ensure that, even in the face of a massive state budget deficit, Minnesota’s justice system receives adequate funding. Along with our other justice system partners, the Bar has met with a long list of key legislators throughout the session. So far, that work has achieved important results. Gov. Dayton set the bar high with his initial budget proposal, which included full funding for the court system and Civil Legal Services, as well as a 5% funding increase for public defenders. The Governor’s budget relied on significant new revenue; the Republican legislative majority, however, is in the process of putting together a budget that addresses the state’s $5 billion deficit without increasing taxes. Despite this tight constraint, House and Senate leadership responded to the efforts of the Bar and its justice system partners, as well as strong internal lobbying from the House and Senate Judiciary Committee chairmen, lawyer-legislator Rep. Steve Smith and Sen. Warren Limmer. The results were House and Senate justice system budget targets that were markedly better than other areas of the budget, some of which saw cuts that exceeded twenty, thirty, and even fifty percent.  After receiving budget targets, committees began the work of distributing allocated funds to specific programs. The Senate proposed and passed a justice system budget that maintains funding for courts with a small boost to cover increased health care and pension benefits. The Senate increased funding for the Board of Public Defense by 2.4% but cut funding for Civil Legal Services by 6.4%. During the Senate floor debate, an amendment was offered to restore funding for Civil Legal Services by increasing the civil court filing fee by $6. The amendment failed.    The House passed its own justice system budget, which mirrors Senate funding for courts, while maintaining funding for public defenders. However, the House bill reduces funding for Civil Legal Services by 16.9%, a total of $4 million over the biennium. This cut comes on top of previous funding cuts that have left legal aid the only part of the justice system that is currently funded below 2006 levels. Additionally, the House proposal contains a number of serious restrictions on the types of cases that legal services can handle. Taken together, the funding cuts and the restrictions would significantly erode legal services’ ability to provide services to the poor and disadvantaged, and to help the courts function properly. The differences between the House and Senate bills will be hashed out in a conference committee. It is possible that a stand-alone justice system budget bill could be sent to Gov. Dayton, but he has indicated a preference for a comprehensive budget proposal – a budget that Capitol observers expect would get vetoed. If that were to happen, the justice system budget would essentially be back at square one as the executive and legislative branches would begin negotiating a budget compromise. Throughout this process, our legislative team will continue to be responsibly involved to ensure that key lawmakers understand the high value and importance of the societal contributions provided by civil legal services, as well as those of public defenders, and the courts. In following developments as they unfold, our commitment is to keep you informed and to let you know when and how your involvement can make a difference.Terry Votel, MSBA President   April 11, 2011

For an adequately funded justice system

“The courts are where the people come when the things that are most important to them – their family, their freedom, their property – the things they treasure most, are threatened. ”
Chief Justice Lorie S. Gildea

This is a critical time for the justice system – the committees are finalizing their bills this week. Please make sure that your representatives understand the importance of adequate funding for all the justice systems’ components. Please contact the Senate Judiciary and Public Safety Committee and the House Judiciary Committee. Thank them for their efforts in support of an adequately funded justice system, and remind them of the need to adequately fund all its components, including civil legal aid. (And to help us make 1000Supporters as effective as possible, please drop us a note letting us know whom you called, and what the response was.)

Steve Hirsh, MSBA

March 22, 2011

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For an adequately funded justice system

“The courts are where the people come when the things that are most important to them – their family, their freedom, their property – the things they treasure most, are threatened. ”
Chief Justice Lorie S. Gildea

House Judiciary Policy and Finance Committee chair Steve Smith (R-Mound), and Senate Judiciary and Public Safety Committee chair Warren Limmer (R-Maple Grove) pledge to protect the Justice System from further budget reductions. In fact, Rep. Smith may push for a 5% increase to the courts budget. According to an article on www.politicsinminnesota.com, Smith said ”I consider the judiciary branch to be a high priority for our society. The government owes its citizens two things, and that’s public safety and justice. Those areas shouldn’t be cut.” Smith suggests a 5% increase in the court budget would be commensurate with the increase in overall state spending.  The call for increased spending comes as the State faces a projected shortfall of $6.2 billion in the coming biennium.

For the past two years, our supporters have consistently made the case that our democracy depends on a properly functioning justice system. Without adequate resources, the courts, public defense and civil legal aid are simply unable to fulfill their missions. Clearly, these efforts are paying off, and political leaders are understanding the issues.

So please, if you haven’t already, make sure your legislators understand the importance of adequately funding Minnesota’s Justive System.

Thanks for all your work.

Steve Hirsh, MSBA

Feb. 1, 2011

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For an adequately funded justice system

“The courts are where the people come when the things that are most important to them – their family, their freedom, their property – the things they treasure most, are threatened. ”
Chief Justice Lorie S. Gildea

Representatives of the Coalition to Preserve the Justice System will testify about the Justice System funding crisis at critical House and Senate committees on Tuesday, January 11 .  Information on the time and locations of the hearings and on Coalition representatives to testify at each hearing is below.

• Tuesday, January 11; 8:15 a.m., Room 10, State Office Building

House Judiciary Policy and Finance Committee

• Chief Justice Lorie S. Gildea
• John Stuart, State Public Defender
• Gary Hird, Civil Legal Services Coalition
• James Backstrom, Dakota County Attorney
• Cliff Poehler, Assistant Hennepin County Public Defender, AFSCME
• Chief David Kolb, Minnetrista Police Department
• Terry Votel, President, Minnesota State Bar Association
• Judge Douglas Meslow, Tenth Judicial District

• Tuesday, January 11, 1:00 p.m., Room 15, State Capitol

Senate Judiciary and Public Safety Committee

• Chief Justice Lorie S. Gildea
• John Stuart, State Public Defender
• Gary Hird, Civil Legal Services Coalition
• James Backstrom, Dakota County Attorney
• Cliff Poehler, Assistant Hennepin County Public Defender, AFSCME
• Dave Pecchia, Executive Director, MN Chiefs of Police Association
• Terry Votel, President, Minnesota State Bar Association

Please attend these hearings to show your support for adequate Justice System funding. If you can’t make it to the hearings, you can still contact your legislator and let them know the importance of an adequately funded justice system.

Go here to see the members of the House Judiciary Policy and Finance Committee. The Senate Judiciary and Public Safety Committee membership is here.

Thanks for all your work.

Steve Hirsh, MSBA

Jan. 7, 2011

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For an adequately funded justice system

“The courts are where the people come when the things that are most important to them – their family, their freedom, their property – the things they treasure most, are threatened. ”
Chief Justice Lorie S. Gildea

As we await the final result in the governor’s race, the majority Republican caucus has announced the committee chairs for the upcoming session. Here are a list of the key committees on justice system funding, and their chairs:
House Committees

• Judiciary Policy and Finance: Steve Smith (Dist. 33A)
• Public Safety and Crime Prevention Policy and Finance: Tony Cornish (Dist. 24B)
• Civil Law: Torrey Westrom (Dist. 11A)
• Ways and Means: Mary Liz Holberg (Dist. 36A)

Senate Committees

• Judiciary and Public Safety: Sen. Warren Limmer (Dist. 32)
• Finance: Sen. Claire Robling (Dist. 35)

If you are a consituent of one of these committee chairs, it is especially important to speak to them about the crisis in justice system funding. Please make contact before the session begins in January. You can also offer to be a resource to your legislator on justice system funding issues. Be sure to leave behind your contact information, so your legislator can contact you as questions arise.

You can find contact information for House members athttp://www.house.leg.state.mn.us/members/housememberselect.asp, and Senate members at http://www.senate.leg.state.mn.us/members/member_list.php?sort=a&ls=&parm_status=SENATOR-ELECT#header. If you are unsure of your legislative district, you can find the information easily at http://www.gis.leg.mn/OpenLayers/districts/.

Once you do make contact with your legislator, please take an extra minute to fill out this quick, 3-question form, so we can track your efforts.

We have materials posted at www.1000Supporters.org, and will keep that website updated with current information and talking points.

Thanks for your support.
Steve Hirsh, MSBA

Nov. 29, 2010

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For an adequately funded justice system

“The courts are where the people come when the things that are most important to them – their family, their freedom, their property – the things they treasure most, are threatened. ”
Chief Justice Lorie S. Gildea

The 2010 elections are over, and the dust is beginning to settle (or at least the legislative dust). As you doubtless know, both houses of the Minnesota legislature now have Republican majorities. Fortunately, adequate funding for the justice system – the courts, public defense, and civil legal services – is not a partisan issue. We have always had support from both parties. And the brutal fact is that we are going into the 2011 session facing a $6 billion deficit – regardless of which party controls the legislature.

There are 36 new House members, and 25 new Senators. A number of experienced, knowledgeable legislators have been replaced by people who may have little familiarity with the justice system partners, the financial crisis the system has been weathering, or the consequences of continued under-funding. We are relying on you to make sure your local legislator understands these issues, and supports an adequately funded justice system.

While results are not yet official, if you have any question about who won in your legislative district, you can get information from the Secretary of State’s Office at http://electionresults.sos.state.mn.us/20101102/. Now, before the press of the session begins, is a good time to introduce yourself to your legislator and communicate with them about the crisis that is already occurring. And once you do make contact with your legislator, please take an extra minute to fill out this quick, 3-question form, so we can track your efforts.

We have materials posted at www.1000Supporters.org, and will keep that website updated with current information and talking points. We’ll send out more information once committee assignments are announced.

Thanks for your support.
Steve Hirsh, MSBA

Nov. 15, 2010

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For an adequately funded justice system

“The courts are where the people come when the things that are most important to them – their family, their freedom, their property – the things they treasure most, are threatened. ”
Chief Justice Lorie S. Gildea

As we approach the upcoming elections and the 2011 legislative session, the justice system is once again threatened by a looming state budget deficit, forecast to be about $7 billion (factoring inflation). There will be painful cuts throughout state government. Yet the consequences of a disintegrating justice system are far more painful. As Chief Justice Gildea said in a recent address: “We are on the brink.  If our already overburdened system is further cut, it will begin to break down.  Think about the arrest warrant that doesn’t get signed quickly enough, the order for protection that isn’t issued, trials that get set into the far distant future, victims forced to wait months and years for resolution, small claims cases taking so long that the process does no good.”

All of the justice system components  – the courts, public defense, and civil legal services – are dealing with reduced staff and increased workloads, and developing new efficiencies. Yet much of the public is unaware of the seriousness of this crisis, or the efforts being made to address it. Chief Justice Gildea is asking all of us to help “communicate to the five million constituents of our justice system – the people of Minnesota – … the message that the justice system belongs to them, and that they have a stake in ensuring that the system is adequately funded.  We must carry the simple and straightforward message that the courts are a core government function.” Look for updates soon from1000Supporters.org, and the Coalition to Preserve the Justice System, with more information, and specifics about how you can help.

In the meantime, MinnPost, the online news publication, has created asurvey where you can describe your experience with an inadequately funded justice system. Please take a minute to tell your story about the impact of the recent funding cuts. You can find the survey here. (If the hyperlinks don’t work, cut and paste this address into your browser:http://tinyurl.com/2uopo9f.)

And visit www.1000Supporters.org for current information on the state of the justice system, and the efforts to protect it. Thanks for your support.

Sept. 28, 2010

Committee leadership has recognized the importance of an adequately funded justice system – and that’s important. It’s also important to remember that the justice system is an ecosystem – if all the components aren’t operating properly, the system will break down. As Chief Justice Gildea has said, we must understand the “dire consequences to … communities if the justice system is allowed to slow to a crawl because it doesn’t have enough judges or court staff or public defenders or legal aid attorneys or prosecutors or law enforcement officers.”