HomeMy WebLinkAboutCC RES 2016-23RESOLUTION NO. 2016-23
A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF PALM DESERT
URGING THE GOVERNOR, LEGISLATURE AND JUDICIAL COUNCIL
TO WORK TOGETHER TO REALLOCATE JUDICIAL RESOURCES
TO ENSURE EQUAL ACCESS TO JUSTICE FOR
ALL CALIFORNIANS
WHEREAS, the population of Riverside and San Bernardino Counties has grown 37
percent over the last 15 years, but funded judicial positons have not increased
sufficiently to meet the increased need, resulting in lengthy delays for the residents of
these counties in accessing justice through their courts; and
WHEREAS, San Bernardino and Riverside Counties have two of the highest caseload
ratios per judge in the State; and
WHEREAS, the Chief Justice and Judicial Council, through modification of the
Workload Allocation Funding Model, have taken significant initial steps to promote equal
access to justice by creating a model to allocate funding more equitably to the trial
courts; and.
WHEREAS, according to the 2014 Judicial Needs Assessment, San Bemardino County
has a need for 57 additional judges, and Riverside County a need for 51 additional
judges, more than any other counties in the State and ranked first and second,
respectively, in terms of need; and
WHEREAS, in 2015, SB 229, which would have funded 12 additional judgeships in
California, including 4 in San Bemardino County and 3 in Riverside County, was passed
by the legislature unanimously but vetoed by the Governor; and
WHEREAS, in his veto message, the Govemor stated: "I am aware the need for judges
in many courts is acute- Riverside and San Bemardino are two clear examples.
However, before funding new positions, I intend to work with the Judicial Council to
develop a more system wide approach to balance the workload and the distribution of
judgeships around the state"; and
WHEREAS, the Governor's 2016-17 budget proposes to reallocate up to 5 vacant
judgeships and the staffing and security compliments needed to support them to areas
where workloads are highest.
NOW THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED THAT THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF
PALM DESERT HEREBY URGENTLY REQUESTS THAT THE GOVERNOR,
LEGISLATURE, AND JUDICIAL COUNCIL WORK TOGETHER TO CREATE AND
IMPLEMENT AN ACCEPTABLE METHODOLOGY, WHICH ALLOCATES FUNDED
JUDICIAL POSITIONS, WITH FUNDING FOR SUPPORT STAFF AND COURT
SECURITY, WHERE THEY ARE NEEDED MOST URGENTLY IN RIVERSIDE AND
SAN BERNARDINO COUNTIES, SO THAT ALL CALIFORNIA RESIDENTS CAN
ENJOY EQUAL ACCESS TO JUSTICE.
PASSED, APPROVED, AND ADOPTED by the City Council of the City of Palm
Desert, Califomia, on this 10th day of March, 2016, by the following vote, to wit:
AYES: HARNIK, JONATHAN, TANNER, WEBER, & SPIEGEL
NOES: NONE
ABSENT: NONE
ABSTAIN: NONE
ROBERT A. SPIEL L, MAYOR
ATTEST:
RALL D. LASN, Y CLERK
CITY OF PALM DESERT, CALIFORNIA v