News Item
Justice Coaltion in Rochester Thursday
Posted: Wednesday, February 11, 2009
JusticeCoalition: Cuts Threaten Public Safety in Southeastern Minnesota
Members of the Coalition to PreserveMinnesota’s Justice System will hold a news conference Thursday, February 12,at the Olmsted County Courthouse in Rochester to express their concerns aboutthe impact of proposed funding cuts to the justice system.
Chief Justice Eric J. Magnusonformed the coalition in 2008 in response to concerns about the growinginability of the state’s justice system to keep up with the more than 2 millioncases filed each year and a proposal to cut funding by as much as 10 percent.
“Our justice system is at the tipping point,”said Chief Justice Eric J. Magnuson. “Underfunding and budget cuts have leftcourts, public defense, and the justice system, generally, short-staffed andoverwhelmed with their caseloads. Publicservice windows are closed part of each week in many courthouses, services havebeen cut and civil and criminal case delays are building throughout the state.”
In addition to ChiefJustice Magnuson, also scheduled to speak are: Third Judicial District ChiefJudge William Johnson; Olmsted County Attorney Mark Ostrem; Olmsted CountySheriff Steven VonWald; State Public Defender John Stuart; and Mark Delehanty , Board Member, Civil Legal Services.
Who: Coalition to Preserve Minnesota’sJustice System: Minnesota Judicial Branch, Minnesota District JudgesAssociation, Minnesota Association for Court Management, Minnesota Board ofPublic Defense, Minnesota State Bar Association, Minnesota State BarAssociation Civil Litigation Section, Minnesota County Attorneys Association,Minnesota Urban County Attorneys Association, Minnesota City AttorneysAssociation, Hennepin County Bar Association, Ramsey County Bar association,Civil Legal Services, Teamsters, AFSCME, Minnesota Sheriff’s Association,Minnesota Chiefs of Police Association, Minnesota Association of VerbatimReporters and Captioners, League of Women Voters, WATCH
What: News Conference
When: 1:30 p.m. Thursday,February 12, 2009
Where: Courtroom 5, Olmsted County Courthouse,
151 Fourth Street SE, Rochester