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Supreme Court lobbies for more county judges

Justices want to create 66 additional judgeships statewide. The governor, meanwhile, faces a deadline to name three to Pasco judgeships that were created this year.

By COLLEEN JENKINS
Published December 16, 2005

With word due next week on who will fill three new Pasco judgeships, the state's highest court recommended Thursday that the Legislature add a few more during its next session.

Florida Supreme Court justices requested two new county court judges for Pasco County. Also, the 6th Judicial Circuit, which includes Pasco and Pinellas, needs an additional circuit court judge, Chief Justice Barbara Pariente wrote.

That's one less circuit judge than Pasco-Pinellas Chief Judge David Demers requested. Circuit spokesman Ron Stuart said no decision had been made about where the additional circuit judge would be based if funded by the Legislature.

"I don't think that's been discussed yet," Stuart said. The requests are "based on the circuitwide caseload."

The annual ritual of seeking new judges comes on the heels of the end of a lean trend for the judiciary, which until 2005 had gone three years without an increase in its ranks.

This year, legislators funded 59 new circuit and county judgeships statewide, including five between Pasco and Pinellas.

Three slots went to Pasco; Gov. Jeb Bush is considering finalists for those seats. His 60-day window to make his appointments is almost up.

Despite this year's boost, the Supreme Court said Thursday that legislators fulfilled only about half of the need for more judges. And so begins the tango between lawmakers and the judiciary.

The court relies on caseloads and available judge time to determine how many more trial court judges are needed. As of 2003, justices noted, Florida judges handled approximately 64 percent more filings than their colleagues nationwide.

County courts have been particularly strained by significant increases in nearly every type of case heard there, justices said. Filings also are on the rise in probate and family court, which includes divorce, domestic violence and repeat violence cases.

Statewide, the Supreme Court is seeking 66 additional judgeships: 40 in circuit courts, 24 in county courts and two in district courts of appeal.

The 2nd District Court of Appeal, which hears appellate cases out of Pasco and hasn't received a new judgeship since 1993, needs an additional position, justices said.

Colleen Jenkins covers courts in west Pasco County. She can be reached at 727 869-6236 or cjenkins@sptimes.com

[Last modified December 16, 2005, 00:54:19]