Judicial Conference of the United States Approves Additional Cost-Saving Measures
This post has been viewed 2,359 times.
The Judicial Conference of the United States today approved the latest in a series of cost cutting measures, taking steps to:
- Assure there is no overall growth in courthouse space, effective immediately;
- Reduce the square footage occupied by the Judiciary by the end of Fiscal Year 2018;
- Seek legislation that would avoid the costs associated with mandatory minimum sentences; and
- Seek legislation to allow for early termination of supervised release for defendants who no longer present a risk.
While the Judiciary has been engaged in an aggressive cost containment effort for the last decade, sequestration reduced overall Judiciary funding by nearly $350 million. This has triggered broad cuts in court staff and programs and emphasized the need for continued cost containment within the Judiciary. (Further details appear in a September 10, 2013 letter (pdf) the Judicial Conference sent to the President.)
Today the Conference endorsed a “No Net New” policy under which any increase in square footage within a circuit would need to be offset by an equivalent reduction in square footage within the same fiscal year. This policy takes effect immediately and applies to court space as of the beginning of Fiscal Year 2013. The Conference also voted to impose a three percent space reduction target by the end of FY 2018. The baseline for this policy also is space holdings in each circuit as of the beginning of FY 2013. Excluded from both policies is new courthouse work approved by Congress.
Read original articleTags: Judicial Conference, square footage
Related Posts
