Settlement Looks Near in Months-Long Fight to Fund County Courts

County officials and local judges are on the brink of a deal that would end the bitter six-month legal battle over funding for Orange County’s courts.

The Board of Supervisors this afternoon is expected to consider a new funding package for the courts that would provide an additional $2.95 million as well as 19 marshal positions and 30 court administrative positions, officials said.

“We are extremely close to resolution,” said Supervisor Thomas W. Wilson. “This is something we’ve been trying to do for months.”

Orange County’s six presiding judges filed an unprecedented civil complaint in April saying the courts needed an additional $13 million to continue operations through the end of the fiscal year and an additional $10 million for capital improvements and technology upgrades.

The county supervisors allocated the courts an additional $4.5 million to get through the end of the fiscal year in June but refused the judges’ other demands.

A break in the stalemate occurred in September, when the state Legislature adopted a new law shifting some of the responsibility for court funding to the state and away from the county.

As a result, the state could pick up as much as 30% of funding now covered by the county.

With the prospect of more state funding, both sides entered talks in October.

Wilson, who along with Board Chairman William G. Steiner tried to resolve the dispute this spring, said a deal would spare taxpayers a long and expensive trial.

“I am extremely optimistic that we will have this wrapped up very soon,” he said.

The settlement would appear to give the court less county funding than originally sought. But with the new law, the courts could seek additional funds for courthouse improvements and equipment purchases from the state. The courts’ total budget is about $131 million.

Judges said the county’s courthouses are in desperate need of repairs and improvements, including a weapons-detection system and new jury assembly room for the Central Courthouse in Santa Ana. More marshals, for example, also would be needed to run the security system.

The case is being watched from across the state, where many court systems find themselves with tight budgets. State law requires counties to provide “suitable” facilities and “sufficient” supplies for courts.