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51 °F 5 Day Forecast Wednesday, December 17, 2003 Today's News | Classifieds | Autos | Homes | Jobs | Tempo | eSouthernOregon | Home Delivery SECTIONS Home Page Local News Sports Business Obituaries Life Opinion - Politics AP News Weather Classified Archives Site Map EXTRA Newspaper in Education Personals Movie Times TV Times E The People CLASSIFIEDS Find a Car Find a Home Find a Job Find a Rental Place an ad eSouthernOregon Automotive Communities Entertainment Publications Recreation Calendar CUSTOMER SERVICE Frequent Questions Advertising Information Home Delivery Employment Contact Us Media Kit Network Affiliate Email Story to a Friend December 11, 2003 Court delays could grow longer Jackson County will be hit hard if voters repeal the temporary tax surcharge in February By SARAH LEMON Mail Tribune Delays expected throughout Oregon’s court system if voters reject a January tax increase may reach Jackson County residents quicker than others in the state, officials said. Oregon courts likely will experience lengthy delays in many types of cases if the judicial department’s budget takes more cuts, said Wallace P. Carson Jr., chief justice of the Oregon Supreme Court. Most polls indicate that Oregonians will not approve a tax surcharge, forcing the Legislature to slash the state’s budget, he added. Speaking to local attorneys Wednesday, Carson outlined which cases are the courts’ highest priority, such as violent felonies and child protective issues, and which would have to wait under a scaled-back budget. Courts would only close as a last resort, he said. "The only thing we have left is delay," Carson said. Yet Jackson County’s cases already are among the most delayed in the state, according to Jim Adams, Circuit Court administrator. Advertisement Last year, felony cases lingered for an average of 245 days in Jackson County Circuit Court before going to trial, compared to 112 days to 123 days in Lane County, 132 days in Multnomah County, and 212 days in Marion County, Adams said. Although courts in Eugene, Portland and Salem boast more judges, Jackson County has long been deemed the busiest court in the state based on the ratio of cases per judge, Adams added. Oregonians seeking divorces, civil settlements, small claims judgments or property distribution, will endure the longest court delay, officials said. Those cases rank near the bottom of the courts’ case priority list if the judicial department takes more cuts, officials said. Courts have not yet determined how long petitioners would wait for resolution in these cases. "(Clients) have a problem today. ... They may not have six months to wait," said Medford attorney Marsha Skudlarek. "It’s like calling a doctor when your kid has an earache; you expect an immediate response." In an effort to cut costs and speed up all cases, Jackson County has implemented some of the state’s first alternative Circuit Court programs, Adams said. Mediators — mostly volunteers — decide many small claims and other civil complaints as well as child support and custody issues, Adams said. The court has created self-help programs to expedite divorces. Court clerks can take pleas on traffic tickets, he said. An existing trend of using minimal staff and funds may put Jackson County at greater risk if Circuit Courts across the state receive a uniform budget reduction — projected at 8 percent if voters reject the tax surcharge. Approximately 95 percent of Jackson County’s court budget is used to pay staff, Adams said, adding that the court still has not filled some vacant positions. "Over the years, we have done so much to make things efficient," said Mark Schiveley, Jackson County Circuit Court’s presiding judge. "How do we make it any more efficient?" While Portland-area courts could endure budget reductions of around 20 percent before reducing hours, a cut of 6 percent would force some of the state’s smaller courts to close, Carson said. Reach reporter Sarah Lemon at 776-4487, or e-mail [email protected] Mail Tribune Home Local News | Sports | Business | Obituaries | Life Opinion - Politics | AP News | Archives | Site Map E Southern Oregon | Classified Copyright © 1997-2003 Mail Tribune. All rights reserved. Privacy Policy | Terms & Conditions Website Feedback 3 WEEKS FREE! ADVERTISERS SPECIAL SECTIONS Auto Finder Job Finder Home Finder Joy Magazine Homelife Magazine Tempo Real Estate Showcase Food for Thought Hike of the Week Wellness Connection Outdoor Journal Moving to Southern Oregon? Volunteer Openings Prime Times