Court Finance and Unitary Budgeting

Abstract

Among the difficulties besetting the courts today is lack of money.In this respect, they share adversity with most public and charitableinstitutions such as schools, universities, hospitals, parks and libraries.But the fiscal dilemma of the courts is unique in certain respects.They constitute an independent branch of government, critically necessaryto the balance of our constitutional system. Yet they are expectedto eschew the normal political process and, unlike other competitorsfor public resources, are prohibited from cultivating their own constituenciesand utilizing lobbyists. Furthermore, the judicial systemsof most states are heavily dependent on local government for theirfinance.' In these states, the courts must join the unhappy competitionfor the inadequate revenues of local property taxes.

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