Board Heeds Judge’s Plea to Add Courts

In a special appearance Tuesday, the presiding judge of Superior Court persuaded the Board of Supervisors to proceed with a plan for more downtown courtrooms that had been placed in jeopardy by a decision to spend $5 million on East County courtrooms. During preliminary hearings Tuesday on the 1989-90 county budget, Judge Michael Greer vigorously urged supervisors to pursue plans to lease nine courtrooms in downtown San Diego to help reduce trial backlogs.

In an unexpected move on Monday, the supervisors had voted to build four courtrooms in El Cajon, leading to speculation that the downtown expansion would be scrapped.

Greer said the overburdened judicial system, already in dire need of courtrooms, could not wait for the construction of new facilities in El Cajon, which would not be completed until April, 1991.

9 New Judges

The courtrooms also are needed to accommodate nine new Superior Court judges slated to be appointed by the end of the year, he added.

“We are in an emergency situation,” Greer said. “We need a place to put new judges.”

The controversy arose on Monday when Supervisor George Bailey persuaded two supervisors to support his motion to add $5 million to the proposed $1.45-billion budget to build county-owned East County courtrooms. He had argued that leasing court space in downtown San Diego was like “throwing money down the drain.”

Bailey’s request--which the board approved 3-2-- would most likely have resulted in the paring of funds from other programs, said David Janssen, assistant chief administrative officer. Budget planners were considering using the $1.2 million set aside for downtown courtroom leasing to finance construction in El Cajon.

But after hearing Greer’s arguments Tuesday, the supervisors agreed to pursue both expansion projects.

The board directed the chief administrative officer to proceed with lease negotiations and a financing plan that includes monetary assistance from the City of San Diego. Without the city’s cooperation to bolster downtown facilities, the county will most likely abandon plans to add courtrooms in San Diego.

City Manager John Lockwood declined to comment on such a joint financial venture with the county.

Indeed, it has been the city’s reluctance to pay for additional courtrooms that spurred Bailey to push for the construction of the East County facilities.

Outside Downtown

Bailey’s motion was approved by supervisors who represent regions outside the downtown core--John MacDonald and Brian Bilbray. Supervisors Susan Golding and Leon Williams--whose districts include the City of San Diego-- opposed Bailey’s motion.

Greer told the board Tuesday that to continue reaping the economic benefits that the legal community offers San Diego, the city must be willing to offer incentives to keep lawyers downtown.

“A great percentage of the county’s legal community is based in downtown,” Greer said. “Lawyers or services to lawyers contribute greatly to the city’s economy. If the city doesn’t provide courtrooms, the city will lose them.”

An increasing crime rate, lack of downtown courtrooms and construction of East County facilities will result in civil cases being scheduled in the new facilities and downtown courtrooms being converted into a criminal processing center, Greer said.

Most of the county’s crime occurs in the San Diego judicial districts, Greer said. Because crimes must be tried in the districts where they occur, existing San Diego courtrooms are being used predominantly for criminal cases.