Courts Are Allocated Extra $2.5 Million

SANTA ANA — The Board of Supervisors voted Tuesday to provide local courts with an additional $2.5 million, which county officials said is enough to continue judicial operations through the end of the month.

The extra money, far less than what local judges sought, should prevent any interruptions in basic court services through the end of the fiscal year on June 30. But it will not alter the potentially precedent-setting legal battle between the county and the judges over what is adequate court funding.

The case stems from a civil complaint filed in April by Orange County’s six presiding judges and is now being heard in Los Angeles County Superior Court.

Supervisor Thomas W. Wilson proposed Tuesday that the board formally ask the judges to drop the lawsuit and “resolve this issue ourselves and without expensive lawyers.” Wilson suggested that the county work with judges to develop a wide-ranging audit that would help determine the courts’ funding needs.

Both the courts and the county have brought in outside law firms. The county counsel’s office is handling the county’s case with help from Hennigan, Mercer & Bennett, the firm that is spearheading the county’s bankruptcy litigation.

Dennis Bunker, the county’s risk management director, said that his office has yet to receive any bills from either firm. Hennigan, Mercer & Bennett charges an hourly rate of $170 to $400, depending on the lawyer doing the work, Bunker added.

“It doesn’t matter if the [legal bills] are $1,000 or $10,000; it’s still taxpayer money,” Wilson said. “I think we need to do whatever we can to avoid using extraordinary amounts of money on this kind of litigation.”

Alan Slater, executive officer of Orange County Superior Court, said that he could not comment on Wilson’s proposal because it involves ongoing litigation. He said he would not oppose some type of audit but only if a “qualified” and “competent” firm is selected and the scope is clearly stated.

The courts have already received $129 million from the county this fiscal year. With Tuesday’s allocation, the county will have provided the courts with a total of $4.5 million in extra money. The courts have said in the past that they need an additional $13.3 million.