Court to layoff staff, keep vacant posts open

DES MOINES – Iowa court officials Thursday announced plans to lay off 15 employees -- including 13 court reporters -- and keep nearly 50 positions vacant to address budget cuts in the new fiscal year that begins July 1.

Iowa Supreme Court Chief Justice Marsha Ternus said the latest belt-tightening measures are needed to operate within a $5.4 million reduction is state appropriations for fiscal 2010.

"Reducing our workforce is a tough decision. But there are no good or easy choices for reducing our operating budget," Ternus said in a statement. “Every choice has drawbacks that affect our service to the public, so the court took great care to approve measures that will preserve the fundamental functions of the judicial branch through the tough economic times ahead.”

To live within the budgeting constraints beginning next month, Ternus said judicial branch officials cut about $635,000 in non-personnel expenses and ordered a statewide workforce reduction to reduce costs by nearly $4.8 million.

Unlike “stop-gap measures” taken to cope with mid-year budget cuts in the current fiscal year, she said the fiscal 2010 adjustments will not include unpaid leave, judicial travel restrictions and court closures.

"We must operate within the limits of our appropriation from the Legislature," Ternus said. "As stewards of public funds, the Supreme Court is resolved to do everything in its power to reduce our operating expenses.

“However, as the leaders of Iowa's justice system we are deeply concerned about the impact continuing cuts will have on our ability to deliver quality court services to the public,” she added. “Because of the effects of the nation's economic downturn, people need court services now more than ever."

Ternus said plans call for reducing the judicial branch workforce by eliminating or holding open nearly 50 vacant court staff positions in all levels of the court system. For the first time in years, she said, judicial vacancies will be held open as a way to reduce expenses, but exceptions will be made in districts that can show a compelling need to fill a judicial or juvenile court position.

In addition, Ternus said, the court system will lay off about 15 staff members, including 13 court reporters.

“The Supreme Court is determined to keep the court system open to the public without interruption,” the chief justice said. “Nevertheless, the cuts we implement today will impair our service to the public. With fewer judges and court staff to address the workload, delays will continue to grow and quality may suffer."

State Court Administrator David Boyd said plans call for reducing the court reporter workforce by 10 percent and to begin pooling court reporters.

"This will be a big change for our judges,” he said. “Even so, I am confident that we can effectively cover all of the trial courts' reporting needs by pooling court reporters. Pooling is much more cost effective than our traditional practice of assigning one court reporter to one judge. It will reduce court reporter down time and save taxpayers nearly $1.5 million."