Budget Boom Helps Prompt Manchin Court Study

The state judiciary's budget has grown by more than half in the last five years, an increase that helped prompt Gov. Joe Manchin to seek a study commission for West Virginia's court system, The Associated Press reports.

The executive order that Manchin declared he'll sign is not ready yet, but he told his State of the State audience Wednesday that "this commission will be directed to look at all options, including creating an intermediate court, improving the judicial budget process, achieving more transparency in our judicial election campaigns, as well as the best method for selecting judges."

"Figures show that the judiciary's share of general revenue has jumped 57 percent in the last five budget years, from $76.4 million in 2005 to nearly $120 million requested for 2010," the article said. "The rate of growth is greater than that of either the executive branch or the Legislature."

The courts' administrator notes his branch's still-tiny share of general revenue -- just 3 percent this year -- and tells AP the judiciary welcomes the review.

AP notes that at least three other recent reviews have weighed judicial selection in recent years, while a study commission recommended an intermediate appeals court in 1998.