Gov. Deval L. Patrick filed his budget recommendations for the
fiscal year 2015 on Jan. 22. Patrick recommends funding the Trial
Court at $617.5 million, which is slightly more than the Trial
Court's maintenance request of $615.1. The additional funding would
cover the costs of expanding specialty courts and the judicial
compensation increase that was enacted last year.
Patrick's Massachusetts Legal Assistance Corporation (MLAC) budget
recommendation was $14 million. While it is a $1 million increase
over fiscal year 2014 funding, it is $3 million below MLAC's
current $17 million request for civil legal aid.
The House and Senate will take up their own versions of the budget
in April and May respectively.