Last week, the Chief Justice of the Iowa Supreme Court gave his condition of the judiciary address.

House Judiciary Committee Chair Chip Baltimore has been discussing funding problems with the Chief Justice. He also outlined speciality courts that have save the state money. Those courts include drug treatment, family law and juvenile diversion efforts, all designed to give those individuals support to stay out of trouble.

Baltimore is hopeful that with the positive programs, the judicial branch can look at cost savings to help them with their funding needs.

“The more that the judicial branch can succeed with, through these different programs, the fewer resources we need in the human services area, for instance, with the Department of Human Services and with drug treatment through that budget.”

When lawmakers look at the 2018 fiscal year budget, Baltimore says they can examine other state budgets to help give more funding to the judiciary branch.