New Chief U.S. Judge Criticizes Budget Constraints
From the Associated Press
The new chief judge for the federal court system in northern Illinois says lawmakers in Washington, D.C. have created "a crisis" and "a financial storm" for U.S. district courts by freezing their budgets.
Ruben Castillo made the comments Tuesday to assembled judges, court staff and family after he was sworn in at the district's Chicago courthouse.
The budget for the Northern District of Illinois is currently frozen at $14 million.
Castillo says the court is already operating as efficiently as it can. But he says he keeps getting warnings more cuts are coming.
He said he's essentially being asked by legislators: "Which limb do you want amputated?"
Castillo says the district's approximately 30 judges are already handling about 1,000 criminal cases and 12,000 civil cases a year.
Read more in our daily News Update...
From the Associated Press
The new chief judge for the federal court system in northern Illinois says lawmakers in Washington, D.C. have created "a crisis" and "a financial storm" for U.S. district courts by freezing their budgets.
Ruben Castillo made the comments Tuesday to assembled judges, court staff and family after he was sworn in at the district's Chicago courthouse.
The budget for the Northern District of Illinois is currently frozen at $14 million.
Castillo says the court is already operating as efficiently as it can. But he says he keeps getting warnings more cuts are coming.
He said he's essentially being asked by legislators: "Which limb do you want amputated?"
Castillo says the district's approximately 30 judges are already handling about 1,000 criminal cases and 12,000 civil cases a year.
Read more in our daily News Update...