Regional counsels want a share of court tech funds.

A court ruling that counties do not have to help pay for the Offices of the Criminal Conflict and Civil Regional Counsels (OCCCRCs) should not be read to exclude them from another state fund intended to help court-related agencies pay for computer equipment.

The Attorney General's Office is making that argument in a motion for clarification filed with the First District Court of Appeal. A three-judge panel from the First DCA, ruling on July 17, unanimously found unconstitutional the state law requiring counties to pay for housing the OCCCRCs and pick up some other expenses.

The AG's motion, filed August 3 by Special Counsel Jonathan A. Glogau, noted that the panel upheld a circuit judge's ruling that's part of F.S. [section] 29.008, but it didn't address F.S. [section] 28.24(12)(e).

That addresses a $4 service charge collected by clerks of court. Of that, $2 goes to counties to be used exclusively for court-related technology. The remaining $2 is split between the court system, state attorneys, public defenders, and the OCCCRCs, also to be used for technology.

"This issue was pointed out in appellant's briefs, but not addressed by...