Chief justice: Bevin cuts would close courts

Offering a "clear and sober warning," Kentucky's Supreme Court chief justice warned Tuesday that budget cuts proposed by Gov. Matt Bevin would cripple the court system statewide.

Just to enact the 4.5 percent cuts Bevin has proposed for the current fiscal year that ends June 30, the courts "likely would have to shut down the entire court system for approximately three weeks," John Minton Jr. told a house budget subcommittee.

"It is simply not possible for the judicial branch to cut 4.5 percent, $9 million, from our general fund in the current fiscal year," Minton told the panel.

Further, cuts of 9 percent in each of the next two fiscal years would result in "massive reductions in the workforce" and Minton said other justice initiatives "would be jeopardized by a crippled court system."

Minton is the latest among a parade of witnesses who have warned about Bevin's proposed deep cuts to public universities, schools K-12, human services and other areas.

Minton's comments appeared to alarm members of the committee that oversees the judiciary budget, including chairman Rep. Kevin Sinnette, an Ashland Democrat.

"I'm very scared," Sinnette said. "I'm really struggling with the budget."

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The proposed cuts to the court system also got the attention of House Speaker Greg Stumbo, who told reporters Tuesday he expects the House will try to limit the reductions to the judiciary.

"I don't believe we've ever had a situation where the courts would have to close for weeks on end," said Stumbo, a Prestonsburg Democrat. "That's just unacceptable."

Stumbo said the solution for the court system budget it to "put more money in it," which he expects the House will do as it drafts its version of the state two-year spending plan.

Senate President Robert Stivers, a Manchester Republican, said Tuesday he was not familiar with Minton's testimony earlier in the day.

"I think we have to be aware of it and look at it," he said.

Minton told the committee Tuesday that the court system has endured repeated rounds of cuts since the recession began in 2008 and has little left to cut and continue to keep the courts functioning.

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Bevin has said the cuts are necessary to free up funds for the state's deeply underfunded public pension system.

But Minton said the court system has been cut so deeply it can't sustain any more.

Since 2008, the court budget has been cut nearly in half and has lost 10 percent of the workforce to layoffs and attrition. The judicial branch has exhausted any reserves it had, he said.

"We're a lean branch of government with no more fat to cut and losing 9 percent of our budget for the next two years would potentially decimate our ability to meet our statutory obligations," Minton said.

Contact reporter Deborah Yetter at (502)582-4228 or at dyetter@courier-journal.com.