Budgeting for State Courts: The Perceptions of Key Officials Regarding the Determinants of Budget Success

Abstract:     
While much has been made of the financial crisis affecting state courts in the early 2000s, there has been little research on court budgeting and the politics that affect it, especially concerning factors that lead to budgetary success. In this study we assess the determinants of budget success for state courts by examining the perceptions of key state budget actors. We argue that courts tend to behave conservatively in the budget process and made need to be behave more politically. Behaving acquistively, providing realistic requests, and justifying funding needs will enable courts to increase funding in the short term. In the long-term, courts should act more aggressively to improve relations with legislative and executive branch officials.

Number of Pages in PDF File: 14

Keywords: state courts, judicial independence, budget politics, appropriations, inter-branch relations, lobbying

Accepted Paper Series