President’s Budget Mixed Bag for Federal Courthouse Program

President’s Budget Mixed Bag for Federal Courthouse Program

President Clinton’s proposed FY 2001 budget released yesterday contains some funds to replace old and decaying federal courthouses throughout the country. For the first time in four years, the Administration has requested funds for proposed projects, identifying money for seven court buildings and leaving 14 proposed projects unfunded.

News of the President’s long-awaited funding request means relief may be in sight for some of the courts across the country that are struggling with serious facilities concerns. The workload of the federal courts has grown tremendously over the past 10 to 15 years, largely as a result of legislative efforts to wage a federal war on crime and the illegal drug trade. As the criminal caseload has grown in number and complexity, civil jurisdiction of the federal courts has broadened and the number of bankruptcy filings also has risen substantially. Court facilities, however, have not grown to meet the needs of today's court system.

Many of the existing court facilities were built over 50 years ago and have not or cannot be altered to meet the needs of a modern day justice system. Courthouse structures of yesterday cannot accommodate the technological advancements that are being made today. Security for jurors, witnesses, court employees, judges, and the visiting public is compromised as they pass through the hallways and ride in elevators also used by individuals who have been charged with or convicted of serious crimes.

“Unfortunately, the President’s budget doesn’t address the critical needs of all of our courts that are operating in substandard, overcrowded, unsafe facilities.” said Administrative Office Director Leonidas Ralph Mecham. “Lack of funding in recent years has created a substantial backlog in construction and has adversely impacted all courthouse projects scheduled for coming years.”

Delayed courthouse projects not only force courts to continue conducting business in inadequate facilities, but also result in significant cost increases. It is estimated that construction costs increase an average of 3-4 percent for each year of delay, and the cost of scarce urban sites is expected to increase dramatically.

Courthouse funds were not included in the President’s budget requests to Congress in FY98, FY99, or FY00. Despite appeals to Congress, no courthouse funding was received in FY98 or FY00. A plea for funding in FY99 resulted in Congress appropriating funds for courthouse projects.

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Courthouse Projects Included in the
President’s FY 2001 Budget Request

Los Angeles, California
Seattle, Washington
Richmond, Virginia
Gulfport, Mississippi
Washington, D.C.
Miami, Florida
Little Rock, Arkansas

Courthouse Projects Not Included in the
President’s FY 2001 Budget Request

Eugene, Oregon
Buffalo, New York
Springfield, Massachusetts
El Paso, Texas
Mobile, Alabama
Fresno, California
Norfolk, Virginia
Las Cruces, New Mexico
Salt Lake City, Utah
Rockford, Illinois
Cedar Rapids, Iowa
Nashville, Tennessee
Erie, Pennsylvania