Gov. Charlie Baker has released his budget recommendations for
FY16.
The legal community was largely disappointed by those
recommendations. The Trial Court was allocated $603 million, which
is approximately a $10 million decrease from FY15 funding and
nearly $40 million below the maintenance request submitted by the
court. If Baker's recommendations were to come to fruition, the
Trial Court estimates that they would have to eliminate 550
employees. The Trial Court has already had a 17 percent reduction
in staffing between July 2007 and July 2014.
Additionally, the Massachusetts Legal Assistance Corporation
(MLAC) was allocated $14,683,589, which is level funding from
current FY15 after the midyear cuts in January. MLAC was originally
allocated $15 million in FY15 and had requested a $10 million
increase to $25 million to address the growing need for civil legal
aid.
The House of Representatives is set to take up its version of the
budget in April. The MBA will remain proactive in working with the
leadership of our affiliated bars and court leaders to advocate for
a budget that provides appropriate access to justice for all.