GLENDALE : Supervisors to Praise Court for Frugality

The County Board of Supervisors is expected to give a commendation to Glendale Municipal Court officials for their frugality in saving $682,000 from a nearly $5-million 1992-93 courthouse budget.

“We’re very flattered and honored,” said James Rogan, Glendale Municipal Court’s presiding judge. “We are a far more efficient court today than we were a year ago or so.”

Rogan, who was appointed to the bench in 1990, officially replaced Judge Joseph DeVanon as presiding judge this January, bringing his own brand of thriftiness to the job.

“My wife says I’m really cheap and tight, so this (the $682,000 savings) wasn’t a surprise to me.”

“I don’t think it takes a business person’s sense” to handle a budget, Rogan said. “I just think it takes common sense.”

A large part of the savings comes from six unfilled positions during most of the 1992-93 fiscal year, court officials said. Those included a court administrator, a judicial secretary, two court reporters, a supervising deputy clerk and an administrative assistant.

Court Administrator Linda Larsen was hired two weeks before the end of June, and costs for her salary were shared between Glendale’s municipal and superior courts.

Rogan also said he put a stop to the court’s previous practice of spending all its money given by the county for fear that it would receive a smaller budget the following year.

Despite the cost-cutting measures and unfilled positions, Rogan said his court staff of more than 40 has been able to keep up with the heavy caseloads and other court paperwork, such as traffic and parking ticket payments.

The Board of Supervisors is scheduled to commend Rogan and the Glendale Municipal Court at its July 20 meeting.