TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) - Kansas Supreme Court Chief Justice Lawton Nuss has told legislators that judicial branch employees are so underpaid that the problem threatens the state's ability to provide justice.
Nuss made an aggressive pitch for greater funding for the court system during his annual State of the Judiciary address Wednesday to a joint session of the Legislature.
The chief justice's speech came a week after Republican Gov. Sam Brownback released budget proposals that did not include nearly $20 million in additional funds sought by the courts for the fiscal year beginning July 1.
Nuss said the pay for all job classifications within the court system are below market rates and some by as much as 21 percent.
He said low pay has given Kansas courts an unusually high turnover rate.
© Associated Press
You will need to be logged in to leave a comment.
Please Login
The posting of advertisements, profanity, or personal attacks is prohibited.
Click here to review our Terms of Use.
Comments
KS_Referee (01/18/2018 1:01 PM)
Maybe if the courts acted in an efficient manner, as the court demands of everyone else when the court assess their highway robbery fines and penalties upon them, they likely would not need any more money. The FACT is the Kansas judicial system is EXACTLY like any and every other government department or agency in that it is the epitome of inefficiency simply due to it not having any competition because every government service department and agency is a monopoly. As such, since it will never have a private industry counterpart to compare itself against, they just like all government service entities, will proclaim themselves to be as efficient as possible... and if anyone dares to question their assertion they get yet another monopoly government service entity to investigate and validate their claim. Finally, since there is no competition that a citizen can choose to get the same service and since all citizens are obligated to pay for that service and do not have an option to opt out, they just like any and every other government entity can demand more and more money from the citizens, regardless of their performance or actual value. Any business which is not fully regulated by government that operated as inefficiently as government does, would either fail or would create a market for a competitive company to provide the same service in a more efficient manner. Seriously, think about this situation. A government entity managed to provide a service last year at a set amount all of a sudden needs an additional $20 million to provide the same level of service? Who in their right mind can justify asking for an additional $20 million to provide the same service they provided the year before for $20 million less than they are asking for? Government... thats who.
MOST VIEWED STORIES
Atchison apt fire claim's toddler's life, injures others
Four arrested for illegal activity on Kickapoo Reservation
One injured in Nemaha Co wreck
Wetmore man arrested on child sex-related charge
Walnut Township Treasurer removed; votes unofficial until canvass
Effingham woman killed Friday in Atchison wreck
Rural Horton man arrested on multiple drug charges
TX man to stand trial on charges in fatal Jackson Co crash
USD 430 Board accepts resignations, approves new hires
Local judge files for re-election
Atchison in running for national fireworks honors
Bridge work begins Wed in Doniphan Co
Meteorologist Spencer: Geometric Watch means electronic disruptions
Latest Brown, Doniphan Co filings
Street lights to be discussed at Monday city meeting
BC's Pate remembered by students, college family
Planned outage for Brown-Atchison Electric Tuesday
Motorcyclist injured in Holt Co MO crash
LATEST STORIES
Effingham woman killed Friday in Atchison wreck
Street lights to be discussed at Monday city meeting
Truck fire at CGB facility in Falls City
Bridge work scheduled for Atchison County MO
Meteorologist Spencer: Geometric Watch means electronic disruptions
Rural Horton man arrested on multiple drug charges
Recycling program discussed at Doniphan Co meeting
Two candidates file for Jackson Co attorney