Quince briefs legislators on the impact of budget cuts.

Florida's court system has already seen its budget reduced by $44 million over the past two years and the elimination of 282 positions. Having to absorb another 10 percent cut would cost hundreds of more jobs and seriously compromise the courts' ability to efficiently carry out its mission.

[ILLUSTRATION OMITTED]

That's the message Chief Justice Peggy Quince had for legislative leaders in December, as they gathered in Tallahassee to begin looking for ways to plug a more than $2 billion hole in the state's budget and address a projected deficit that is expected to grow even larger next year.

"The court system budget is only 0.7 percent of the state budget, a small amount to be paid to honor fundamental expectations of government," Quince told lawmakers.

Appearing before the House Criminal and Civil Justice Appropriations Committee, Chief Justice Quince, State Courts Administrator Lisa Goodner, and Ninth Circuit Chief Judge Belvin Perry, chair of the Trial Court Budget Commission, set out the cold, hard numbers the third branch of government is dealing with.

Here are the highlights:

Having to absorb a 10 percent cut in FY 2008-09 would mean a reduction of $40.1 million, resulting in the loss of 556 positions and requiring 23 days of furlough for all courts. The number of jobs lost would be "staggering," because 87 percent of the court system's budget goes to salaries, and 53 percent of salary dollars goes to pay constitutional officers. The cuts to the rest of the budget would actually result in an 18.5 percent reduction.

For the Supreme Court, a 10 percent cut would mean the loss of 12 positions and require 23 furlough days, which would result in case delays, including a significant impact on the timely disposition of death penalty cases; decreased quality of legal research; and the inability to perform basic maintenance, pay utility bills, or provide required levels of security.

The impact on the district courts of appeal would be the loss of 52 positions and 23 furlough days, resulting in a decline in disposition rates; decreased quality of legal research; and the inability to perform basic maintenance, pay utility bills, or provide required levels of security.

The Office of the State Courts Administrator would have to eliminate 13 positions, shut down for 23 days, which would result in inadequate technical support; significant delays in payment of bills; failure to keep courts in compliance with state and federal laws; and an inability to...