Latest Headlines
- Escambia Commission Installs Four Commissioners, New Chair And Vice-Chair
- Century Extends Town Management Services Contact With South Florida Company; One Council Member Objects
- Instagram Worthy Photo Op: 4-H Hay Bale Decorating Contest Winners
- New Credit Union Location Planned On Nine Mile Road At Milestone
- Food Distributions At Walnut Hill, Marcus Pointe And The Fairgrounds
- Operation Christmas Child Collections This Week At Highland Baptist, First Baptist Bratt
- The William Carey University Spirit of Carey Performs For Tate Showband Of The South
- Cantonment Cowboys 14U Named Grand Champions At Emerald Coast Cheer Competition
- Former Treasurer Indicted On 36 Felony Counts For Allegedly Stealing From NWE Youth Sports
- Escambia Motorcylist Struck And Killed Sunday Afternoon
Supreme Court: Another Circuit Judge Needed For Escambia, Santa Rosa
December 23, 2014
After lawmakers have turned down requests in recent years for more trial judges, the Florida Supreme Court on Monday said the state needs an additional three circuit judges and 32 county judges — including an additional circuit judge in the 1st Judicial Circuit, which includes Escambia, Santa Rosa, Okaloosa and Walton counties.
“The First Judicial Circuit continues to experience a heavy criminal workload as well as a steady number of tobacco cases, which frequently go to trial and thus require significant judicial labor,” the Supreme Court said.
The request came in an annual process known as a “certification of need” to the Legislature, which ultimately decides whether to approve new judges.
“As the state economy continues to steadily improve, we recognize that in a post-recessionary period competing demands for state funding persist across state government,” the Supreme Court said in a 10-page document. “We also note that, due in large part to the recession, the judicial branch has had no increase in trial court judges since 2007, despite a documented need.”
Comments