$18-Million Shortfall in Court Financing Forecast : Jurisprudence: County legal experts fear proposed slashes in state support would result in justice denied.

SANTA ANA — An anticipated $18-million reduction in Orange County court funding next year would cripple court services, leading to the delay--or denial--of justice, a group of judges, attorneys and court officials warned Monday.

Orange County municipal and superior courts need about $115 million to operate during the 1993-94 fiscal year, the officials said, but proposed state and county budgets and other revenue would only generate about $97 million.

With criminal cases receiving top priority, judges and leaders of the Orange County Bar Assn. predicted at a news conference that the impact of reduced funding will be felt most severely in other court services.

“The constitutional right to justice and access to justice for the average citizen . . . may soon be a mere memory,” warned Bar President Michelle A. Reinglass, who encouraged residents to contact their elected officials to complain.

Longer lines at the clerk’s office, reduced service hours, longer waits for restraining orders, less security in courtrooms and a backlog of civil cases are likely results, court officials predicted.

“In my opinion, cuts in the $20-million range would mean closing doors in some regards,” said Alan Slater, executive officer for the Orange County Superior Court.

The court funding crunch is a direct result of budget problems extending from Santa Ana to the state Capitol.

The Orange County Board of Supervisors is facing an $80-million budgetary shortfall, largely because state government is trying to balance its own budget by recapturing as much as $2.1 billion in property taxes normally sent back to county governments.

During the 1992-93 fiscal year the courts budget was about $105 million. Court officials have decided they need $116 million for the coming fiscal year, due to increased operating costs and inflation.

The anticipated court funding represents a $2-million reduction in county funding and an $8-million cut in money from the state, officials said, at a time when criminal filings are on the rise.

The officials said some state efforts to save money would end up infringing on a person’s right to a trial by eliminating jury trials for defendants facing less than six months in jail. In those instances, a defendant’s case would be heard by a judge alone.

Officials stressed that figures they quoted Monday are only proposals yet to be approved by state and county officials.

Chief Assistant Dist. Atty. Maurice L. Evans said he is concerned that battered women will have to wait longer for restraining orders against abusive partners if budget shortfalls mean fewer clerks and open courtrooms available to process such urgent filings.

“In a case like that, a battered woman doesn’t always have time to wait,” Evans said.

The most frustrating aspect of the court funding issue is that Orange County raises millions in court fees and revenues--but only sees a portion of that money make its way back from state coffers, Slater said.

For example, he said, civil court fees generated an estimated $13 million during the current fiscal year, but less than $9 million will be returned by the state to Orange County. Millions more are accrued in other court fees, including traffic fines, he said.

Recent legislation orders that the state pay 60% of trial court costs in return for a portion of court revenues, but court officials on Monday said state officials have begun backsliding on their promise and intend to only fund about 40% of the costs in the coming fiscal year.

Slater said court districts statewide have begun discussing the possibility of legal action to make sure courts are fully funded according to state law.

Orange County is faring better than most areas. San Bernardino County, for example, has decided to close its courts an extra 10 days a year to make up for its lack of court funding.

Ron Coley, administrative manager with the county administrative office, said Orange County courts will be in better shape than other county agencies.

“Criminal justice agencies are getting the least cuts,” Coley said.

Court Contributions

Gov. Wilson’s proposed 1993-94 budget would reduce the state’s share of Orange County court operational costs to 1991-92 levels. ‘90-91 County: 69% State: 31% ‘91-92 County: 61% State: 39% ‘92-93 County: 51% State: 49% ‘93-94* County: 61% State: 39% * Proposed Sources: County of Orange