County Asks Judges for Details of Funding Complaints

Orange County’s top administrator notified local judges Friday that more information is needed to evaluate their emergency request for more than $30 million for court operations.

County Chief Executive Officer Jan Mittermeier sent a four-page letter to presiding judges of the county’s superior and municipal courts asking for detailed information about the courts’ projected budget shortfall, which she said the county has yet to confirm.

Mittermeier’s letter was the latest development in a continuing battle between the judges and the county over trial court funding. The judges warned the board two weeks ago that they might have to close courthouses and set free thousands of criminal defendants if the county didn’t give them more money.

The issue caused Presiding Superior Court Judge Theodore E. Millard on Wednesday to disqualify the entire local bench from handling the bankruptcy-related misconduct charges against Supervisors Roger R. Stanton and William G. Steiner and Auditor-Controller Steve E. Lewis because of the appearance of conflicts of interest.

The judges’ warning was the first step in a legal process that could eventually force the county to hand over more money.

In her letter, Mittermeier asked the judges to provide more information and to work with the county as partners instead of adversaries.

“The Board of Supervisors remains committed to finding a solution that achieves the goal of adequate funding for the superior and municipal courts of Orange County and believes that this can best be achieved through cooperation not confrontation,” Mittermeier wrote.

Top court officials could not be reached for comment late Friday.

The judges have said that the courts are reeling from state cutbacks and bankruptcy-related budget reductions, along with rising caseloads, and that without increased funding they might have to close the courts by April 15. County officials said they are still grappling with the bankruptcy and don’t know where to find any additional money.

The county still must file a formal response to the judges legal notice by Wednesday. If county officials refuse to pay, the matter goes before a state court-funding commission, which could shift funds from other counties. Should that fail, Orange County judges might order the bankrupt county to keep the courts running.