April 5, 2011
STATEMENT ON THE JUDICIARY BUDGET
New York State Bar Association President Stephen
P. Younger
“We are very disappointed that the newly enacted state budget
slashes a total of $170 million from the Judiciary’s proposed
budget for the fiscal year beginning April first.
“When Chief Judge Jonathan Lippman proposed cutting the
Judiciary budget by $100 million in early March, he had promised that
courthouses would remain open.
"However, the approved $170 million cut to the Judiciary budget no doubt
will impede the functioning of the court system and cause unfortunate
delays in the dispensing of justice. Eliminating hundreds of
non-judicial positions in the court system (through layoffs and
attrition) would cause delays in civil litigation, ranging from child
custody cases to commercial contract disputes. We are hopeful that the
cuts will not result in the closing of courtrooms.
“The State Bar Association has offered its assistance to the
Chief Judge in identifying ways to minimize the impact of the budget on
every New Yorker’s access to justice.”
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