File name: JACSupplementalBudget2011-2012_20110111_144256.dcr
Folder: C:\Documents and Settings\HAppropriations\Desktop\Recordings
0 ~ 1/11/2011 2:49:45 PM ~ 101 Supreme Court/District Courts
13 ~ 1/11/2011 3:04:27 PM ~ Roll Call
20 ~ 1/11/2011 3:04:33 PM ~ Berger: Asked for introduction
1:07 ~ 1/11/2011 3:05:20 PM ~ Justice: Introduced Staff and justices Kite: Asking for money to do an andditional time study for workload of district courts,..fits with current efforts..don't want overloaded with clerks..want staffed properly. small request f $80, 000
3:24 ~ 1/11/2011 3:07:37 PM ~ Joann Odendahl: Would like to explain to the new members about the budget. There is a seperate budget....turn to page 1 under the supreme court ..that memo is always in the front. Under the district court section, under page 1 is a memo to the JAC. I point these out because the judges come to you with their request..will not see letter from governor
4:53 ~ 1/11/2011 3:09:06 PM ~ Joann: Page 6..Items in blue are supplemental requests, approved in the last session, color coded.....supplemental is always in blue...excuse me supplemental is in brown,
5:38 ~ 1/11/2011 3:09:51 PM ~ Joanna: Page 6 time study listed in administrative budget of the supreme court
6:13 ~ 1/11/2011 3:10:26 PM ~ Nicholas: Why did you put it in the 100 series....
6:25 ~ 1/11/2011 3:10:38 PM ~ Joanna: It is not a 100 series, asking for the $ in 903. Handout, $80,000 to do time study is a tool we work with so when judges ask for additional personnel, it is not automatically aded to the budget request....time study takes two months ...daily basis keep track on a 10 minute basis... blue column...that information ..some may take longer..inputing citations is quicker, garnishments, civil cases is longer To get a good determination..this is what we use. For example....Collectively case took ..minutes. smaller courts clerks have to go from interruptions to ...all of that information from all the courts is put into an average
9:40 ~ 1/11/2011 3:13:53 PM ~ Rhonda: Part of the reason for doing a time study ...it was 2005 for the last time we studied the clerks...we only do the time study every so often as it is very time consuming...every year we plug in the new filing case numbers.... For example: family violence cases...legislature changed the law in 2006 for protection orders to go for a year so the law is different so we believe it takes the clerks more time...so time to do a new study..just one example
11:16 ~ 1/11/2011 3:15:29 PM ~ Nicholas: How do you expect to spend the $80000? Joann;
11:37 ~ 1/11/2011 3:15:50 PM ~ Joann: We hire a consultant..she is a statistician..takes the information we have gathered..after every fiscal year Thonda updates the actual fiscal assessment... Go to the last page...125 clerks positions..indicates taht 7 clerks are overstaffed,, 4 positions are not filled..do not plan to fill the vacancies..have used one vacancy for a clerk to travel and fill in... If they share the same judge, can use a clerk half time in each location. ...update the time changes..tools used
13:37 ~ 1/11/2011 3:17:50 PM ~ Nicholas: Page 9 narrative....do you have a component to look for efficiency
13:59 ~ 1/11/2011 3:18:12 PM ~ Joann: We do look at that...our rover clerk is ..some clerks are working efficiently, some are not.....time is an average..some courts can have specialized clerks..standardized processes..smaller courts have interruptions
14:51 ~ 1/11/2011 3:19:04 PM ~ Nicholas: With respect to electronic filing, any clerks filing electronically or is it paper
15:09 ~ 1/11/2011 3:19:22 PM ~ Joann: Right now we do not have efiling. IT has been preparing software....at this time we do not have e citations. we do have e-payments..we are trying to save time, save money...
15:54 ~ 1/11/2011 3:20:07 PM ~ NIcholas: Two things in mind...citation as part of commission...seperately the issue of electronic filing for civil matters. Is the e-citation working or saving time..are we moving towards ..any of the courts..e filing
16:44 ~ 1/11/2011 3:20:57 PM ~ Chief Justice Kite: ...our plan is to finish...then go to the circuit courts...none in the circuit courts at this time...e-citation is just getting off the ground. ..our system is ready to take that information..payment by credit card is just barely getting started..this week is first time in Laramie County.....just on the cutting edge..are not beyond Laramie credit. The ability to swipe the driver's license....Electronic filing will ask for more money next year to finish it in the district courts...not there yet..it is striking...went to Chief Justice conference..ahead of some and behind others...electronic stage.. long ways from that ...recognize benefits..
19:10 ~ 1/11/2011 3:23:23 PM ~ Nicholas: ...are you finding they do more work or is it more complicated..because electronic?
19:37 ~ 1/11/2011 3:23:50 PM ~ Kite: Small in the supreme court.. easier to access the information..not the volume of work as a district court...are operating more effeciently and public is better served
20:23 ~ 1/11/2011 3:24:37 PM ~ Nicholas: E payments and credit card are tied into confidentiality..do we have a good system for privacy?
20:47 ~ 1/11/2011 3:25:00 PM ~ Steven: Electronic payments are two components..public and behind the scene which occurs with financial institution...Yes, it is secure...credit card numbers are secured as is the number of the transaction..
21:39 ~ 1/11/2011 3:25:52 PM ~ NIcholas: ..person paying by credit card pays an extra fee?
21:56 ~ 1/11/2011 3:26:10 PM ~ Steve: Yes
22:01 ~ 1/11/2011 3:26:14 PM ~ Von Flatern: ..verbige says study ws done in ..
22:16 ~ 1/11/2011 3:26:30 PM ~ Rhonda: ..adjusted in 2007 but study actually done in 2005. Every 5 or 6 years we do the study...we generate the work load every year..
22:51 ~ 1/11/2011 3:27:04 PM ~ JOAnn: That is all we have..anyu questions
23:04 ~ 1/11/2011 3:27:17 PM ~ Wallis: I am new to the committee....I am wondering if this is a study that you do periodically why wasn't it included in the regular budget last year
23:36 ~ 1/11/2011 3:27:50 PM ~ JoAnn..when we prepare we are six months ahead of the budget process...we do not know what type of fiscal impact will happen.....this study will be done after the ..hope to do the study after the changes July 1
24:39 ~ 1/11/2011 3:28:52 PM ~ Rhonda:..believe a lot of changes have happened...supreme court..additional work..culmination of this...
25:13 ~ 1/11/2011 3:29:26 PM ~ NIcholas: explain rule and new requirement
25:23 ~ 1/11/2011 3:29:36 PM ~ Rhonda: rule was unclear as to how the orders of the court would be sent out...did not speak to postage and who would mail....several different processes across the state..court studied it and decided orders are the work of the court and should be sent by the clerk
26:16 ~ 1/11/2011 3:30:29 PM ~ Hastert: For my edification: the circuit court, what is their primary function, difference in district court and supremem court
26:55 ~ 1/11/2011 3:31:08 PM ~ Kite: Briefly the district courts are primary jurisdiction ...courts..a constitutional court..one in every judicial district..sometimes 2 or 3 judges..circuit courts .handle misdemeanors and smaller civil suits under 7000 ..judiciary bill to increase the limit from $7000 to &50000..can better utilize
28:36 ~ 1/11/2011 3:32:49 PM ~ Hastert: money and ....Is this study going to be timely? Reflective of what the courts will do in the future?
29:23 ~ 1/11/2011 3:33:36 PM ~ Kite: Our intent is to havea baseline so we can measure the increase
29:35 ~ 1/11/2011 3:33:48 PM ~ Rhonda: The timing of this..we want to wait six months..we believe jurisdiction changes in July...do study in Jan...this study will come out with new fiscal numbers in July...will change work load for clerks and for judges..may anticipate a study for the judges workload.
30:29 ~ 1/11/2011 3:34:42 PM ~ Edmonds: How many times in the past have we done these studies? What triggers them?
30:54 ~ 1/11/2011 3:35:07 PM ~ Rhonda: Across the nation, typically every 3 years..we find that is too often...1999 first time for the judges...new time study in 2007..other minor changes..drug courts..tweaks in between..typically 3 to 4 years. we are in a 5 to 6 year...clerks in 2005 study..adjusted in 2007
32:02 ~ 1/11/2011 3:36:15 PM ~ Steward: What I am used to seeing when a bill is proposed and there is a fiscal note..does the Supreme Court participate in that process..
32:37 ~ 1/11/2011 3:36:50 PM ~ JoAnn: Yes, we do fiscal notes..have already received request..try to give as much information as possible...use this as a tool..at the bottom..the resources needed and ....most circuit courts are slightly overstaffed...if ....think we will be on track to cover additional.. After study if we find a court is short..we will use vacant postions to fill those shortages...do not want ot have a full time position thjen RIF and move someone...we asked clerks ..to move to worland..position moved from Jackson..do not believe we will have to ask for additional personnel..study is beneficial
34:46 ~ 1/11/2011 3:38:59 PM ~ Steward: Are we doing this for any other agency in government?
35:12 ~ 1/11/2011 3:39:25 PM ~ Richard Cox: Other agencies do time studies of their staff to allocate time between federal programs. Best example is family services...food stamp case..social work case..gives the department the ability to allocate the salaries for those positions and pull down the federal money
36:03 ~ 1/11/2011 3:40:17 PM ~ NIcholas: We have done time studies in various agencies..often times used to ask for more employment..highway patrol does it often...asks for more patrolmen..typically these requests are on the edge to ask for more staff... time studies to ..move people around...have asked courts to look at vacancies of circuit courts..a tool to defend reason for 7 vacancies...one vacancy will...cover the $80000 Is the ...7 positions
38:02 ~ 1/11/2011 3:42:15 PM ~ JoAnn: WE have 7 positions too many
38:17 ~ 1/11/2011 3:42:30 PM ~ Nicholas: WE have authorized you for ... If you have a vacancy ..do you say you can not fill that position..
38:43 ~ 1/11/2011 3:42:57 PM ~ JoAnn: yes...use study to move positions.....
39:10 ~ 1/11/2011 3:43:23 PM ~ Nicholas: Followup - District Courts are constitutionally independednt..Circuit courts....under supreme courts... so in one sense, need data to...going to use information to manage clerks across the entire system..unique aspect to ask them to manage budget and to ask to shift position from one county..without reliable data...see savings...when they come back..we may say you only get 120 positions. You have 117..you are at 125 ..can only fill .... Other aspect...explain to us the distinction between cases filed in district court versus circuit courts...filing fees....issue of fines..where do court filing fees, electronic fees, fines...? What impact as we move cases around?
42:14 ~ 1/11/2011 3:46:27 PM ~ Kite:..if jurisdictional limits change...about 1/3 of civil cases ..about $7000 to $2500 in filing fees from the circuit court to the district court..the fines won't change..will go in the same direction..court filing fees not sure
43:12 ~ 1/11/2011 3:47:25 PM ~ Rhonda: Filing fees in circuit court go to the state...civil legal services fee, court automation fee go into seperate earmakred funds....Wyo center for legal aid has a board...so other goes to state In district court..some fees go to the county so a bit of issue with the clerks if you change...1/3 of the civil case load...only about 10% of entire load...
44:59 ~ 1/11/2011 3:49:12 PM ~ NIcholas: ...district court and staff paid by county..circuit court and judges pay ..do not pay facilities..district court pay for staff, computers but expect the counties to provide the facility resources.
45:44 ~ 1/11/2011 3:49:57 PM ~ Equibel: How much did we spend in 2007 on this study..same consultant?
46:02 ~ 1/11/2011 3:50:15 PM ~ Rhonda: 2007 study of judges was $100,000 ..used the same consultant....
46:37 ~ 1/11/2011 3:50:50 PM ~ Jaoann It is a tool for use. Everyone would come to us asking for an additional clerk. When we can show them documentation, they are good with that.
48:55 ~ 1/11/2011 3:53:09 PM ~ Rhonda It tells them that the fillings with the court down't justify another clerk.
49:28 ~ 1/11/2011 3:53:42 PM ~ Nicholas. Here is the heavy question. If we give you the $80,000 for the study,
50:12 ~ 1/11/2011 3:54:25 PM ~ Joann We would not like a footnote like that. We have asked the Justices how you would like to filll the vacancies
50:59 ~ 1/11/2011 3:55:12 PM ~ Nicholas The study is great. The question is if you shift a position to a -30 and transfer a position to that area, they then have a .70 overage. I undersstand you have a 7.3 position oveage
53:15 ~ 1/11/2011 3:57:28 PM ~ Kite I think that is consistant with our target. Some times it takes one person fulltime just to enter in all the cases.
54:22 ~ 1/11/2011 3:58:35 PM ~ Campbell I'm one of three in the 3rd jujicial district. The other two could not make it because
55:57 ~ 1/11/2011 4:00:10 PM ~ Joann Currently disticet 1a & 1b share one law clerrk. They arre requestiing the addition of one new clerk
57:27 ~ 1/11/2011 4:01:40 PM ~ NIcholas 292 to fund it.
57:42 ~ 1/11/2011 4:01:55 PM ~ Joann The whole amount would be $147000.
58:25 ~ 1/11/2011 4:02:38 PM ~ Nicholas THe biannum amount would be
58:43 ~ 1/11/2011 4:02:56 PM ~ Joann The amount would be $147,000
59:06 ~ 1/11/2011 4:03:19 PM ~ Von Flatern This is just the historical revolution of the two clerks, now they are divided among three attornies. Dividing the work up is extreamly hard. They is some accountability. I'm not sure whcih fide I am on the fence to fall on. THe judges are required to write up decisions themselves. We are in the circumstance is that...... They want an answer, bottom line. The appleicant court. We review the records and the ....... We have been writing our own.... WE do get complex cases and try to spreasd the work load out.
1:05:07 ~ 1/11/2011 4:09:21 PM ~ NicholasReview Committee
1:05:27 ~ 1/11/2011 4:09:40 PM ~ Campbell We review our own. We conisdered large and small. I'm, not aware
1:06:10 ~ 1/11/2011 4:10:24 PM ~ Joann Alll the budgets are ... The ask the judge to justify to justify their request.
1:07:40 ~ 1/11/2011 4:11:53 PM ~ Joann We only have one set of judges that share a clerk
1:08:40 ~ 1/11/2011 4:12:53 PM ~ Campbell The .... I speak for myself only. They do not utilize We search for time usage. By have a law clerk, we can spend more time in the court. Cnange of custidy etc. I don'w t
1:11:10 ~ 1/11/2011 4:15:23 PM ~ Berger We have a document
1:11:30 ~ 1/11/2011 4:15:43 PM ~ Campbelll Just the civil cases are being considered.
1:12:28 ~ 1/11/2011 4:16:41 PM ~ Joann Page 20 Purchase a coyierd.
1:13:31 ~ 1/11/2011 4:17:44 PM ~ Berger Any other question of the committee