Milwaukee courts being faced with a unique challenge

A. John Voelker, director of state courts, writes in today's Milwaukee Journal Sentinel on the current Milwaukee County budget controversy.

The debate about which governmental entity should fund the circuit courts has continued for many years - possibly longer than Wisconsin has existed. The counties have provided funding for the trial courts since territorial days.

Like any public policy debate, the discussion is worth having in a thoughtful, deliberate manner that takes into account not just short-term savings but long-term results.

In 2002, the Supreme Court appointed a Committee on Court Financing with the charge to identify an effective and responsible financing system to support court services.

In February 2004, the committee - composed of judges, court staff, members of the business community, county officials and others - issued its recommendations in a 71-page report.

The report reflects the difficult decisions that must be made and the issues that must be considered in any thoughtful, meaningful debate on funding the courts.