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State courts need more money, judges say

Wisconsin's court system is underfunded and understaffed, state Supreme Court justices told legislators in a meeting Wednesday.

"It's very important that DAs are appropriately staffed because the courts cannot run without these attorneys," Chief Justice Shirley Abrahamson said. "Some of the issues are new to us; some we have been working on in our own way."

At the meeting, Abrahamson congratulated judges across the state for creatively managing new challenges, such as the increased need for court interpreters. However, she urged legislators to support additional state funding.

Democratic Gov. Jim Doyle has proposed $531,000 in new state funding for compensation to circuit court interpreters in his two-year state budget.

As a member of the Joint Finance Committee, which is currently reviewing Doyle's proposed budget, Rep. Mark Pocan, D-Madison, said it is more likely the committee will be cutting programs than adding proposals. But Pocan said it is good to understand the court's priorities.

Sen. Jim Sullivan, R-Wauwatosa, said Wisconsin is facing an "access to justice" problem. He said low funding has lost the state many district attorneys who go to the private sector or leave for other positions in government.

And Justice Ann Walsh Bradley said the court system has reviewed alternative sources for additional funding, but she added it appears the only option is increased state dollars.

Justices also echoed the need for additional state dollars at the meeting, but legislators pointed to some concerns left unaddressed by the budget, such as racial disparity in the justice system.

"I frankly believe there needs to be some discussion with judges," said state Sen. Lena Taylor, D-Milwaukee, chair of the Committee on Judiciary and Corrections.

Earlier this year, Doyle created a task force to investigate racial disparities in the justice system and provide solutions. At the meeting, Taylor expressed concern that judges in certain regions of the state were more inclined to convict minorities or sentence harsher penalties.

"This is not saying, 'You're racist,'" Taylor added. "This is saying, 'You have some biases that are coming across.'"