Recent changes in law require that the state pay for all future increases in operating costs, beginning on July 1, 1997. Each of the state's counties has a superior court. Currently, there are 805 superior court judgeships. Counties are divided into municipal court districts based on population. Currently, there are 675 municipal court judgeships.
Current law requires trial courts to improve their operations in a variety of ways.
Proposal Trial Court Consolidation. This proposition, a constitutional amendment, permits superior and municipal courts within a county to consolidate their operations if approved by a majority of the superior court judges and a majority of municipal court judges in the county. If the judges approve consolidation of the courts, the municipal courts of the county would be abolished and all municipal court judges and employees would become superior court judges and employees. A consolidated superior court would have jurisdiction in all matters that currently fall under the jurisdiction of either the superior or municipal courts. The Legislature can change these amounts thereby changing the appeal jurisdiction.