TOPEKA--The Court Budget Advisory Council will conduct its organizational meeting in Topeka on October 7. The Council was created to study the consequences for Kansans and their courts if the Legislature makes no changes to its present Judicial Branch appropriation for Fiscal Year 2015.
The 10-member Council's appointments were announced in September by Chief Justice Lawton R. Nuss. Its members include business, legislative, executive and judicial leaders. The meeting will begin at 8:45 a.m. in the Court of Appeals Courtroom of the Kansas Judicial Center, 301 SW 10th Ave.
Chief Justice Nuss said, "The present multimillion dollar Judicial Branch funding shortage, if left unresolved through the legislative process, will mean serious consequences for many Kansans for the year beginning July 1, 2014. The Budget Advisory Council will help the Supreme Court plan for the worst – while we hope for the best during this upcoming legislative session." Council chair is Court of Appeals Judge Karen Arnold-Burger, former presiding Judge of the Overland Park Municipal Court, and former Assistant U.S. Attorney.
Judge Arnold-Burger said she views the Council's work as an important piece of responsible fiscal planning. "The Council will examine both long-term and short-term budget reduction strategies to aid the Supreme Court in making these very tough decisions," Judge Arnold-Burger said.
Agenda items will include the Supreme Court's charge to the Council, presented by Chief Justice Nuss. It is expected that the Council will eventually prepare a prioritized listing of recommendations for reductions in Judicial Branch expenditures, which could include statewide court closures.
Once the Council completes its work, it will submit its report to the Supreme Court by December 13, 2013, so that any Court proposals can be made to the Legislature in January 2014 for consideration.
Court Budget Advisory Council membership includes Court of Appeals Judge Karen Arnold-Burger, Chair. In addition, Chief Judge Meryl Wilson of the 21st Judicial District (Clay and Riley Counties) has been appointed Vice-Chair. Other council members include Sheriff Don Ash, Wyandotte County; Bruce Buchanan, President, Harris Enterprises, Inc., Reno County; State Representative Pete DeGraaf, District 82, Sedgwick and Sumner Counties; District Magistrate Judge Ann Dixson, 16th Judicial District, Kiowa County; Marc Elkins, Vice-President and Associate General Counsel, Cerner Corporation, Wyandotte County; Jim Minnix, Scott County Commissioner; John Vanier, Chief Executive Officer, Western Star Agriculture, Inc., Saline County; and John Wheeler, retired Finney County Attorney.