Chief justice unhappy with cut

Minnesota's chief justice is not happy with cuts proposed by the man who appointed him, Gov. Tim Pawlenty.

"I am disappointed in this recommended cut at a time when our base budgets are already insufficient to fund the level of judicial services that Minnesotans expect and deserve," Chief Justice Eric Magnuson said about a proposed $14.7 million cut.

Court leaders say they have no place to gain extra money, so the cuts would mean cases would be delayed and nearly 100 positions would be eliminated. Combined with earlier cuts, that means staffs will have been reduced 13 percent, the courts say.

More offices would close and hundreds of low-income Minnesotans would not receive free legal representation, the courts added.

Legislators are looking at Pawlenty's recommendations and during this year's session will take their own votes on how to balance a budget now facing a $1.2 billion deficit.

Posted by: Don Davis on 2/16/2010 at 10:29 PM | Permalink

Tags: budget, courts, legislature