Years of budget cuts hit courts, hurt public
Judge Beck tells Rotarians

March 26, 2014
Santa Paula News

By Peggy Kelly Santa Paula Times You don’t hear judges talk much about money but with years of budget reductions even Lady Justice is rumored to be peeking under her blindfold trying to find funding.

Even the Ventura County Superior Court is in a fragile state members of the Rotary Club of Santa Paula were told at a recent meeting featuring Presiding Judge Brian Beck and Michael Planet, the Superior Court’s executive officer, introduced by Rotarian Steve Jump.

Jump noted that since Beck was appointed to the bench in 1997, “He’s handled every courtroom at the courthouse... “

A Thousand Oaks Rotarian and San Diego native, Beck said he has local ties, including that his wife clerked for the late Justice Ed Beach.

As the presiding judge of the Grand Jury Beck spoke of the panel and urged Rotarians to find about more by visiting the website.

Applicants are always welcome and Beck noted those who hold public office are banned from serving.

Those who wish to serve cannot be “of bad moral character... if selected it’s a year stint,” for the 19 member jury that investigates everything except criminal cases. 

“They work really hard,” said Beck of the jurors, “and enjoy their work.”

Although the economy is slowing rising from the Great Recession court budgets were hit “particularly bad... the state cut one-billion in five years,” from court coffers. 

Although “For five years Mike (Planet) has been ahead of the game,” Beck said the county has still implemented hiring freezes and shut down the Simi Valley Courthouse.

It was only when several cities donated and other funding stopgaps found did the Simi Courthouse reopen for only two days a week handling high volume cases such as traffic cases.

The short-staffed Court Clerk’s Office closes at 3 p.m. instead of 5 p.m. due to processing needs and self-help services have seen a sharp reduction.

Such services said Beck, “Can’t give legal advice but can guide people through the process,” of handling court matters on their own, such as family law cases, 85 percent of which have at least one person representing themselves.

“It’s so important when people come to court that they be prepared,” and self-help clinics have been extremely successful in helping people through the legal process.

Those representing themselves, “Do the paperwork, get the signatures, get the papers signed by the judge,” but Beck said due to funding cuts up to 4,000 people were turned away from self-help clinics in 2012.

When it comes to family law Beck said divorces usually are confined to 

three issues: dividing property, support and custody/visitation.

“Everyday I have to remind myself how important it is to make sure I don’t abuse my power,” when it comes to custody and visitation, and mediations between parties are important.

But with budget cuts even situation saving mediations have the potential for being dragged out for “Enough time for harm to be done,” by frustrated and perhaps volatile family members.

“The sad part of the cuts is the lack of access to the courts,” Beck said has been created.

Ventura County Courts are especially stressed being tied for the 14th spot in the state for the number of judicial officers but 5th in the state for the number of filings per judge. 

And although some cuts are being reinstated Beck noted it’s still a long way-and immense financial shortfall-from funding in the past. 

Throughout the state 51 courthouses and 205 courtrooms have been closed, while 30 have reduced service hours.

The state Supreme Court, courts of appeal and Administrative Office of the Courts are using furloughs to cut costs.

Statewide, trial court funding peaked at $3.3 billion in the 2007-08 fiscal year before the recession devastated California’s budgets, according to the state Department of Finance.

In January it was reported that trial and appellate courts next fiscal year need an additional $266 million to retain current services, $612 million to function at full capacity and $1.2 billion over three years to make up for the recent budget cuts.





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