Mayor Shirley Franklin today announced the next phase of the court review process, which will focus on merging and streamlining the City courts to eliminate waste and inefficiency.
Mayor Franklin said, “The independent Court Review Panel has conducted an exhaustive study and has found a court system rife with waste. The Panel has recommended that we merge the two courts as a way to save millions of dollars. This recommendation is rooted in common sense, and it is time to act on it.”
“We have a historic opportunity,” said the Mayor. “As we realize savings by the merger, we can take the money saved to make investments in improving public safety and the quality of life. “
In April 2003, the Court Review Panel, an independent group of attorneys headed by highly respected King & Spalding litigator Byron Attridge, issued a 64 page report with 54 exhibits and a four volume appendix, detailing its four month study of the City’s two courts, the Traffic Court and the Municipal Court.
Among other things, the Panel found that many court personnel work only half days, yet are paid for a full day’s work. In 2002, the two courts spent $630,000 for part time judges even though the 18 full time judges were available to work. The Panel also found that the nine Traffic Court judges worked an average of 122 days in 2002, an absentee rate of 53%; the judges routinely sat on the bench only four hours per day.
The Mayor has asked Mr. Attridge and the Court Review Panel to remain in place to assist with the implementation of the recommendation to merge the two courts. Mr. Attridge, Chair of the Panel, said “We are all honored to continue this important work. A merged court system makes perfect sense for all of Atlanta. It can handle the same caseload we have currently, but at a much lower cost to the residents of Atlanta.”
Boston Consulting Group (“BCG”), one of the nation’s largest strategy consulting firms, has agreed to conduct a thorough business analysis of the two courts and to recommend to the City a structure and processes for an efficient and effective court system. BCG will perform this work at no cost to the City. Joerg G. Matthiessen, Senior Vice President and Managing Officer for BCG’s Atlanta office said, “This is very important work, and we are pleased to be of service to the Mayor and the City. We will work closely with the Court Review Panel, and we also expect to work closely with the courts to find the most effective way for the courts to perform their judicial obligations.”
The Mayor met with the judges of both the Municipal Court and Traffic Court this afternoon to discuss the next phase of the court review process. “We fully expect that the judges and the court staff will cooperate with this process,” said Mayor Franklin. “The judges understand their fiscal responsibility to use public dollars as effectively as possible. I am confident that we will shortly present a proposal for a merged court that will have the backing of all concerned parties.”
The Court Review Panel and the Boston Consulting Group are expected to start work on implementing the plan immediately. Although there is no specific deadline for completion of the work, the Mayor added, “Our goal is to start 2004 with a fully implemented merged court.”
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