Budget cuts squeezing public defenders

From OCALA.com (FL):

The public defender for the 5th Judicial Circuit, Howard “Skipp” Babb, said his office has been working “feverishly” to avoid furloughing employees due to slashed funds from massive state budget cuts.

The Florida Legislature has all but formally approved an appropriations bill that will cut $540 million from its $70 billion state budget. Legislators are expected to pass the bill later this week.

“My management skills are being tested to keep people working,” Babb said.

In the face of a sagging housing market and declining state revenue, the Legislature is draining money from agencies to balance its budget this year. The judicial branch stands to lose $16 million, and has had to dip into its cash reserves to retrieve $10.5 million that will prevent people like judges, judicial assistants, court interpreters, and law clerks from taking mandatory leave from their jobs for the rest of the calendar year.

The State Attorney’s Office has bailed itself out under similar circumstances, yet the fate of the Public Defender’s Office is not in the clear just yet. Babb said the 5th Circuit, of which Marion County is part, must come up with $250,000 to avoid having to furlough employees between now and July 1, the start of the next budget year. He said the Legislature has even discussed moving money around from one circuit to another.

Reduced budgets are having a “ripple effect” throughout the entire court system, according to 5th Circuit Chief Judge Daniel B. Merritt, Sr.

“Caseloads are increasing despite the budgetary shortfall,” he said. “It affects the right of individuals that need to get into court, and get their situations resolved.”

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