Funding Request by Chief Justice Demonstrates Need for Priorities in Government Spending

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
JANUARY 30, 2007

AUGUSTA – On Tuesday, January 30, Leigh Saufley, Chief Justice of the Maine Supreme Judicial Court, addressed both chambers of the State Legislature to update legislators on the state of Maine’s judicial branch.  Included in her remarks was a request for $3.7 million in additional funding to increase court security.

The judicial branch was recently authorized to use federal and state dollars to purchase new security equipment for courtrooms throughout the state, which included metal detectors and x-ray machines.  However, a staff shortage has made it difficult to operate the equipment on a consistent basis, and effective usage of that equipment has been minimal.

Senate Republican Leader Carol Weston, of Montville, was glad that the Chief Justice reminded legislators of the needs of the judicial branch.  “We are happy that the Chief Justice continues to bring this important issue before the Legislature, because the security of our courthouses should be a priority,” she said.  “We have made some progress with the purchase of new equipment, but the regular requests by Chief Justice Saufley for additional security and staff funding demonstrates the need for better priorities in how taxpayer dollars are spent.  Although this issue was not addressed in the current budget proposal, the Senate Republicans hope to work with the Chief Justice and the Democratic majority to find an appropriate solution to this problem, in which court security will be sufficiently represented in the biennial budget.”  

CONTACT:

William Thompson                    287-1505 (o)
Communications Director, Senate Republican Office

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