What permanent cuts did the judicial branch make in previous economic downturns?
In addition to implementing a wide range of efficiency measures over the years, the judicial branch has been required to significantly reduce its workforce. Today, the judicial branch staffing level is 15% percent less than it was at its peak in FY 2002. In contrast over the same period, the executive branch staffing levels have remained about the same and the regents staffing levels have grown by 8%. Among the cost-cutting measures made in the past, the courts have eliminated all funds for hospitalization referees, reduced the number of training and education programs for judges and court employees, eliminated funds for the juvenile restitution program, cut the CASA program, reduced or dropped certain travel expenses, reduced the hours of nearly 70 employees, demoted 79 supervisory employees, and eliminated 155 staff jobs. At the same time, demands for court services have increased. Why not address the budget problem by reducing expenses through efficiency measures? Iowa’s court syste
