TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (AP) _ The Florida Supreme Court says the state needs 90 more trial judges to handle increased workloads caused in part by past budget reductions that cut support staff.
The high court on Thursday, though, conceded the Legislature is unlikely to approve any more new positions due to the state's dire financial condition.
Florida is facing a potential budget shortfall of at least $3.6 billion in the fiscal year beginning July 1.
No new trial judgeships and only one appellate position were created in the past four budget years despite a growing caseload including an avalanche of foreclosure filings.
As a fallback position the justices wrote that they hoped the need for more judges can be addressed when the state's fiscal condition improves.
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