Budget panel votes to eliminate judicial position, office (UPDATE)

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MADISON (AP) – The Legislature’s budget-writing committee has voted to eliminate the only staff position that coordinates activity of the Judicial Council.

Gov. Scott Walker had proposed continuing to pay for the attorney position, which Judicial Council Attorney April Southwick said accounts for “less than half” of the council’s $127,700 a year budget. But the Republican-controlled Joint Finance Committee voted 12-4 along party lines to eliminate the position, keeping the council active as a part of the Judicial Commission.

Southwick said the council would retain $11,800 of its annual budget to cover minimal supplies and mileage reimbursement, but the significantly scaled-back budget would eliminate the office space and her position.

The motion was made by Republican Sen. Glenn Grothman, an attorney served on the council in the 1990s. But he says during tough budget times the money spent for the position could be better used elsewhere.

READ STATE BAR PRESIDENT JIM BOLL’S
RESPONSE TO THE PROPOSED ELIMINATION
OF JUDICIAL COUNCIL STAFF

The council is comprised of 21 judges, attorneys and others charged with advising the Legislature, governor and court system on policy, operational and other issues.

NOTE: The original version of this story from the Associated Press incorrectly stated the Judicial Council’s entire annual budget of $127,700 as Southwick’s annual salary. The updated, corrected story appears above.