Overview

• Massachusetts is a state-funded court system.  Its budget was reduced from $544 million in FY11 to $519.9 million in FY12.  Massachusetts will maintain the same number of judges, but will need to reduce staff levels and also spending on operating expenditures.
• To reduce spending, the Massachusetts courts have furloughed judges and, since October, 2008, they have imposed a hiring freeze on non-judicial employees.  As a result, court clearance rates have dropped.
• The Massachusetts courts have reallocated staff and expect additional court consolidations through court relocations.
• The Massachusetts courts are in a worse position in FY2012. The continuing loss of personnel necessitated by further budget reductions is affecting the court's ability to provide timely disposition of cases. Court relocations are requiring citizens to travel further to access court services.

Reports and Articles

• Dan Ring. "Massachusetts courts in crisis thanks to recent budget cuts, top judges say." Masslive.com. April 12, 2012.
• Matt Murphy. "Courts see service, safety eroding further without funding increase." BostonHerald.com. March 20, 2012.
• Chris Cassidy. "Trial Courts' 9% Pay Hike Sparking Cries of Injustice." BostonHerald.com. February 22, 2012.
• Steven Fletcher. "Cash May Spare Local Court, For Now." Gloucester Times. October 5, 2011.
• Kyle Cheney. "38 Massachusetts Courts Reduce Public Office Hours Because of Budget Cuts." State House News Service. September 6, 2011.
• Editorial Staff. "Order in the Court." Boston Herald. August 1, 2011.
• Editorial Staff. "Ending ‘Confusion’." Boston Herald. July 18, 2011.
• Nancy Stewart. "State’s Courts Falling Behind in Case Clearance Rate." Patriot Ledger. February 7, 2011.
• D. Rings. "Court Proposal Tabled for Now." The Republican. January 1, 2011.
• Peter Schworm.  "Mass. Courts’ Juvenile Cases Plummet."  Boston.com. December 6, 2010.
• Chuck Douglas.  "Court System Crippled."  Concord Monitor. September 19, 2010.
• Evan Lips.  "Police Chief: Don't Close Westborough Court."  The MetroWest Daily News. July 15, 2010.
• Curt Brown.  "State Proposes Closing Housing Court in New Bedford, Wareham District Court."  SouthCoastToday.com. July 15, 2010.

Gavel to Gavel

• Database. Search the Gavel to Gavel legislation database based on state, year, legislation category, or any combination.