After lawmakers turned down requests in recent years for more trial judges, the Florida Supreme Court on Monday said the state needs an additional three circuit judges and 32 county judges. The request came in an annual process known as a “certification of need” to the Legislature, which ultimately decides whether to approve new judges.
“As the state economy continues to steadily improve, we recognize that in a post-recessionary period competing demands for state funding persist across state government,” the Supreme Court said in a 10-page document. “We also note that, due in large part to the recession, the judicial branch has had no increase in trial court judges since 2007, despite a documented need.”
