State of Vermont Judiciary

The Commission on Judicial Operation was created by an act of the Vermont Legislature in May 2008 and charged with conducting a thorough review of Vermont’s court system, with the goal of providing for more efficient and effective delivery of judicial services. In May 2009, the Commission was further directed to identify at least $1 million in savings in the FY 2010 budget.

The 15-member Commission met eight times and heard from more than 800 participants who responded to surveys or took part in focus groups. The Commission’s final Report to the Legislature was unanimously approved by Commission members on Nov. 6, 2009, and offers more than a dozen key recommendations to meet the Legislature’s directives. If adopted, these recommendations would save a combined $2.4 million in state and county budgets.

The Legislature will take up the Commission’s report when lawmakers return to Montpelier in January 2010. The Commission is grateful to all who helped in this effort.