Florida Needs to Add 90 Judges, State Justices Say

(CN) - Florida needs 90 more judges to deal with its increased judicial workload, the Florida Supreme Court ruled, citing the recession and layoffs as contributing causes to the state's need for more judicial resources.

Chief Justice Peggy Quince made the ruling to satisfy the court's constitutional obligation to determine the state's judicial needs and report them to the state Legislature.

"Like all sectors of our society, the judicial branch is coping with the impact these economic forces are having on the daily operations of courts, which are faced with increased workloads, reduced resources, and ever-increasing demands on judges and staff," Quince wrote.

To deal with a backlog caused by an 85 percent increase in filings over the last year, Quince recommended the hiring of 53 county court judges and 37 circuit court judges.

"Fewer resources and no new judgeships for the last three fiscal years have slowed case processing times and negatively impacted clearance rates. Justice in many instances is delayed," Quince ruled.

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