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For Release: Immediate
November 30, 2012
Contact: Lise Bang-Jensen
Director, Media Services and Public Affairs
Lbang-jensen@nysba.org
518-487-5530
Proposed 2013-14 Budget for the
Judiciary: Statement of State Bar President Seymour W. James,
Jr.
“The Judiciary has proposed a budget, in these difficult
financial times, that while essentially flat, recognizes its foremost
mission is to protect access to justice for all New Yorkers.
“The court system is prepared to absorb added costs in a
proposed operating budget that is slightly smaller than its current
budget. To control spending, it is continuing to streamline its
operations and adopt new technologies, such as the expansion of
e-filing.
“We are pleased that Chief Judge Jonathan Lippman has included
an additional $15 million to provide civil legal services to low-income
New Yorkers, who are particularly affected by these difficult economic
times.
“In January 2012, the New York State Bar Association issued the
‘Report of the Executive Committee on the Impact of Recent Budget
Cuts in New York State Court Funding.’ The report documented how
past budget cuts endangered the effectiveness and efficiency of the
courts and their ability to keep up with the growing caseloads.
“We are aware that Superstorm Sandy has further aggravated the
state’s budget problems and that the court system has responded by
making difficult decisions about its spending.
“We urge the state Legislature to approve the Judiciary’s
budget request in its entirety so that the court system can maintain its
basic operations.”
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The 77,000-member New York State Bar Association is the
largest state voluntary bar association in the nation. It was
founded in 1876.
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