Opinion ID: 2427838
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 1

Heading: Other Needed Resources

Text: The Clerk's Office staffing is based in large part on the number of judgeships authorized for a district court. The number of visiting judges assigned to the court will also increase the need for additional Clerk's Office staff, as will the enormous number of border-related cases, and reassignments due to Judge Roll's death. We are working with the Clerk of Court in the District of Arizona to identify its requirements, but note at this time the following units are particularly strained: (a) Docketing and Calendar Clerks: Tucson's calendar clerk is working overtime to keep up with processing all the motions to continue criminal sentencings and trials. In January, she processed 1,166 continuances (32% more than January 2010). The criminal sentencings, disposition hearings, and trials set for Judge Roll are being rescheduled before visiting judges. The district is currently moving sentencings from the other three active judges to visiting judges. There are over 1,100 proceedings that need to be rescheduled, with noticing given to U.S. Marshals, Probation, and the attorneys. Further, during 2010 alone, the clerk's office processed over 2 million dollars in CJA vouchers related to Operation Streamline. (b) Interpreters: The seven staff interpreters are in court every day, most of the certified contract interpreters in Tucson are called in most days, and TIP (Telephone Interpreting Program) proceedings take place each day. Any increase in criminal court activity requiring interpreters will strain the system and court could be delayed until interpreters become available. An administrative clerk was recently hired to log letters/documents submitted for translation and assist with the headsets during Operation Streamline proceedings which reduced the staff interpreters' burden. (c) Probation Office: This office's staffing is based primarily on the number of pre- and post-conviction sentencing reports and the number of post-supervision cases supervised in the community. The crushing criminal workload is taking a severe toll on staff. Although the Administrative Office has provided the Probation Office with supplementary funds, funding remains insufficient to hire enough probation officers to support the work of judicial officers. There are 262 on-board employees, another 16 officers will be hired. The expected staff size of 278 will still be 21 positions fewer than what is needed. The increase in cases also presents a need to increase video teleconferencing capacity with the detention facility where defendants are held. (d) Pretrial Services: This office's staffing is based primarily on case activations (new investigations) and defendants under supervision. Between fiscal years 2009 and 2010, there was a 40% increase in case actions, growing from 13,145 to 18,424. This is primarily due to the increase in Operation Streamline prosecutions. Additionally, there was a 22% increase in cases received for supervision during that same time period, growing from 908 cases to 1,109. Workload continues to increase and it has been difficult to keep pace with staffing. Although recent hires will help alleviate some of the tremendous workload strain on staff, if workload continues to increase and funding is reduced, this could compromise the quality of investigations and supervision being provided by Pretrial Services. (e) U.S. Marshals Service: Additional resources will be required to transport pre-trial detainees, and other matters related to judicial and court security. (f) Magistrate Judges: The District will require either new authorized Magistrate Judge positions or the recall of Magistrate Judges, or likely both.