State Budget and the Circuit Courts Highlights

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Increase base funding for court interpreter reimbursements from $827,100 to $1,060,600 in 2007-08 and $1,125,100 in 2008-09. State statute revised to provide an interpreter for persons with limited English proficiency, regardless of indigence.

Provide $1 million for legal services for the indigent, funded by grants through the Wisconsin Trust Account Foundation (WisTAF) in 2008-09.

Establish new judicial branches in Juneau County in 2008 and Kenosha County in 2009 at a cost of nearly $230,000 per branch.

Provide $49,500 in 2007-08 and $73,000 in 2008-09 for one two-year auditor project position to develop a standardized county court cost reporting program. The program will allow the Director of State Courts to create a uniform chart of accounts that each county would be required to use for recording all financial transactions relating to the operations of circuit courts.

Provide $58,000 and one four-year project training coordinator position and $197,000 annually to support a new federal Court Improvement Program to support training of judges, attorneys, and other legal personnel in child welfare cases, and cross-training initiatives with child welfare agencies and agency contractors.

Modify statutory language to allow the Director of State Courts Office to establish and charge fees for use of electronic filing of court documents under the circuit court automated information systems.