 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 
|
|
 |
||||||||||||||||
|
Bar News - May 17, 2002 Funding Crisis for State Justice Institute THE STATE JUSTICE Institute, which has provided federal funding to support and assist state courts in policy and operations research on state justice issues, has been the victim of a drastic appropriations cut and eventual phase-out of federal support for the organization. In NH, since 1992, SJI has granted almost $700,000 to the New Hampshire court system for research and assistance in court recording technology, caseflow management in the superior and Supreme courts, domestic violence fatality review, juvenile justice, individual judge calendaring, and public outreach projects, to name a few. In response to the funding cuts, the NHBA Board of Governors, in conjunction with a number of other bar associations and justice organizations, has passed a resolution urging continued funding for SJI. At its March 14, 2002 meeting, the Board of Governors (with Governors-at-Large Marilyn McNamara and Gretchen Witt, because of their employment by federal or federally funded agencies, abstaining) passed the following resolution: "RESOLVED, that the New Hampshire Bar Association urges the Administration and Congress to maintain federal support for the State Justice Institute. FURTHER RESOLVED, that the New Hampshire Bar Association urges Congress to fund the operations of the State Justice Institute at adequate and reasonable levels to enable it to carry out its mandate to award federal grants to improve the administration and quality of justice in state courts. FURTHER RESOLVED, that the New Hampshire Bar Association supports the State Justice Institute's request for an appropriation of $13.55 million for Fiscal Year 2003." Other organizations supporting funding for SJI include the American Bar Association, the National Council of Juvenile and Family Court Judges, and the Conference of Chief Justices. The SJI, according to a resolution by the Conference of Chief Justices, "has been the sole source of federal assistance dedicated to state judicial systems, which are essential to the achievement of federal public safety, child welfare, and civil justice objectives." According to the SJI, based in Alexandria, Va., on Nov. 28, President Bush signed the FY 2002 Commerce-Justice-State appropriations bill, which reduced SJI's funding from $6.835 million in FY 2001 to $3 million for FY 2002. Congress also indicated that it intended to completely eliminate funding for the organization. "In light of the reduced funding level, the Institute's Board of Directors has cancelled all SJI grant programs this year. As a result, the Institute will not be accepting concept papers or applications for Project Grants, Technical Assistance Grants, Judicial Branch Education Technical Assistance Grants, or scholarships during FY 2002."
|
|
Home | About the Bar | For Members | For the Public | Legal Links | Publications | Online Store New Hampshire Bar Association |
