Metropolitan News-Enterprise

 

Wednesday, December 1, 2021

 

Page 1

 

$9.2 Million to Fund Temporary Judge Program to Assist Los Angeles Superior Court

 

By a MetNews Staff Writer

 

The Los Angeles Superior Court will receive $9.2 million in state funds to keep the criminal courts operations chugging as the pandemic persists by utilizing services of retired judges, Presiding Judge Eric C. Taylor said in an announcement yesterday.

Chief Justice Tani Cantil-Sakauye on Dec. 22 advised the state’s presiding judges in a memo that she would institute an Early Disposition Program (“EDP”), saying:

“To address the pandemic-induced backlog of criminal matters. I am initiating a program to support trial courts in establishing readiness conferences for the early disposition of criminal cases. To reinforce these efforts. I will make retired judges available through the Temporary Assigned Judges Program….

“As needed, at the request of the presiding judge in each county, I will temporarily provide judges from the TAJP who could be assigned to conduct readiness conferences or cover matters for local trial court judges who would be assigned to these conferences.”

Glitch Recounted

The Superior Court TAJ said yesterday:

“[D]ue to budget and staffing constraints along with other pandemic-related challenges associated with last year’s holiday surge in COVID cases, courts were unable to leverage the EDP to help reduce their significant backlogs.

“In recognition of these challenges, the Chief Justice sought and received approval in the fiscal year 21/22 state budget for S30 million in statewide funding for the EDP.”

Taylor Comments

Taylor commented:

“I am grateful to Chief Justice Cantil-Sakauye, our legislative partners, and the Governor for providing this critical funding through the EDP to assist the Court in reducing Criminal case delays and ensuring timely access to justice for all residents of Los Angeles County. While the Court maintains its commitment to ensuring the health and safety of court users, judicial officers, court staff and justice partners through effective tools like mandatory masking, prioritized court and justice partner vaccinations, batched jury systems to reduce courthouse foot traffic, and more, we also remain laser-focused on reducing delay.”

The presiding judge said that the funding will pay for assigned judges, with their own staffs, who, along with current bench officers, will “strategically and methodically address pandemic-related Criminal case delays in each judicial district.”

Criminal Division Supervising Judge Sam Ohta remarked:

“We are appreciative of Presiding Judge Taylor’s personal efforts to secure this funding, and of the Chief Justice for her vision and dedication to providing timely and fair access to justice through her support of our courts.”

 

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