Public Notice Detail

ST. CLOUD, MN (April 2, 2001) – Central Minnesota judges today expressed strong support for the Judiciary’s legislative request of $86.6 million.  The funding will help the Seventh Judicial District cope with too many cases and too few judges.

Caseloads in the Seventh District have tripled since 1982 and the district is currently facing a judicial deficit.  The Judiciary’s proposed budget would give the Seventh District the new judge it needs to keep pace with current caseloads.  The district includes the counties of Becker, Benton, Clay, Douglas, Mille Lacs, Morrison, Otter Tail, Stearns, Todd and Wadena. 

Since 1982, the district’s major criminal cases have increased 208 percent, major juvenile cases have increased 175 percent and the number of all major cases, which take up about 80 percent of judges’ time, has increased 91 percent.

All across the state, judges are working harder than ever under the pressure of increased filings.  The Minnesota Legislative Auditor reported on Jan. 26, 2001 that Minnesota’s judges handle 49 percent more cases per judge when compared to judges in states with similar court systems (7,854 total filings per Minnesota judge compared to a median of 5,274 total filings per judge in comparable states).

The result is judges spending less time on each case.

“When you’re talking about the lives of our neighbors, our families and our children, a few minutes per case just isn’t enough,” said Judge Vicki Landwehr, Chief Judge of the Seventh Judicial District.

On average, Minnesota judges spend 11.3 minutes for each Driving While Intoxicated case, 20.5 minutes for each domestic abuse file and 2-5 minutes per case on arraignment calendars.  Some judges have used the terms “McJustice” and the “Assembly Line of Justice” to describe their courtrooms.

Guardians ad Litem/Court interpreters

The Judicial Branch budget also includes $6.8 million for mandated services such as guardians ad litem, or advocates for abused and neglected children, and court interpreters.

Currently, 40 percent of all Minnesota children who are involved in child abuse and neglect cases have no voice in the court proceedings that determine their fate even though an advocate is required by state and federal law.  An additional 14 percent have inadequate representation because existing guardians are stretched so thin they cannot spend enough time per case.

Courts all across the state are also struggling to provide qualified interpreters for non-English-speaking people.  Interpreters are constitutionally mandated because they are fundamental to understanding court proceedings.

Language barriers can double or triple court time.  According to the Legislative Auditor, more than half of attorneys and judges agree that cultural and language differences significantly affect the court’s ability to process cases today compared with five or more years ago.

Statewide, judicial district expenditures on interpreter services increased by 197 percent in just four years, from $674,000 in 1996 to $2 million in 2000.

“Minnesotans come to our courts with their most important problems,” said Minnesota Supreme Court Chief Justice Kathleen A. Blatz.  “If we fail to address the court system’s needs, there will be real consequences for real people.  We already have unacceptable deficits in several areas and we must work to change that.”