House leaders support new judges.

For court officials who have been through two years of budget cuts and limited finances, the January 23 meeting of the House Appropriations Subcommittee on the Judiciary was an unusual experience.

Committee members were praising Gov. Jeb Bush for calling for 40 new judges--and saying they wanted even more judges. They also said they've heard concerns about a lack of funding for local law libraries and promised to study that issue.

And committee members and a representative of the governor's office were pledging to work closely and amiably to ensure there's enough money for court operations when the state takes over more trial court funding on July 1. Pursuant to Revision 7 to Art. V approved by voters in 1998, the state must assume a much greater portion of trial court funding no later than the 2004-05 budget year.

The question, as Rep. Dan Gelber, D-Miami Beach, put it, is, "When we take the champagne bottle and hit the Art. V boat on July 1, is it going to float?"

Subcommittee Chair Rep. Joe Negron, R-Stuart, listed several areas during the meeting where he wants improved funding.

"I'm going to make it a strong priority that we fund the new judges that are needed and the Supreme Court has certified," he said. "The governor's budget has 40. The House budget will have more than 40." The Supreme Court certified 88 new judges, 51 circuit, 33 county, and four district court of appeal judges.

Negron also said the House should address the judicial assistant pay issue raised by the court. "I want to make sure that judicial assistants are treated fairly and are not paid less just because they are in one part of the state."

When Brad Thomas, representing Bush's office, presented a summary of the governor's budget, Negron used the opportunity to discuss funding of law libraries, which has raised concerns around the state. Previously, counties imposed a filing fee surcharge to support the libraries, but will lose that authority when the state assumes a greater share of the responsibility for funding the trial courts as of July 1.

"I think libraries are an essential element of the court system," Negron said. "I would hate for one of our legacies to be that people who have been convicted and are serving time have better access to law libraries than our citizens."

He added, though, he's not sure who should pay for the libraries, and perhaps local bar associations could help.

Thomas replied, "If that issue is important to you, it is important to us...