From the Kentucky Post On-Line on 8/26/2005.
Boone Judges Among Busiest
Yet another sign of Boone County's rapid growth appeared this week in the form of statistics from the Administrative Office of the Courts showing it has some of the busiest courtrooms in the state.
It's lone full-time circuit judge, Tony Frohlich, is the busiest in the state, with a caseload 2½ times the state average.
It's family court judge, Linda Bramlage, is the fourth busiest in the state.
And its two district court judges, Michael Collins and Charlie Moore, also are the fourth busiest among the state's 115 district judges.
The numbers also include cases from Gallatin County, where the same judges preside. But Boone County makes up more than 92 percent of the caseload.
"We can't keep up," Frohlich said.
"If you look at our active cases, we have about 4,000 open cases. And we're increasing the number of filings since I've been here from 1,900 to nearly 2,600."
That's over a two-year period. Counting the past five years, the number of new filings in circuit court - which includes mostly felony criminal and civil, non-domestic cases - has skyrocketed nearly 60 percent.
In fiscal year 2005, which ended June 30, the circuit courts in Boone County alone had 2,386 filings, including 865 criminal cases. Gallatin County added 199 cases, including 44 criminal cases.
Family Court in the two counties had 1,977 filings, while District Court had 18,050.
Part of Circuit Court caseload has been alleviated with the appointment of Stan Billingsley as a part-time circuit judge.
Frohlich said Billingsley helped close out about 800 cases - but even with that, the circuit remains the state's busiest, he said.
"I don't know where we would be without him," Frohlich said. "We couldn't do anything but (hearings). We couldn't do any trials."
The AOC has recognized Boone County's growth.
In 1998, it created a Family Court for divorces and other domestic cases.
And putting Billingsley in as a permanent, albeit part-time, addition has eased the backlog of cases, said AOC spokeswoman Leigh Anne Hiatt.
"They do routinely get help from first the special judges and after that from the senior judge program," she said.
She said the AOC currently is preparing its budget to present to the legislature, and additional judges will be requested as needed. But then, she said, it's up to the General Assembly to provide the money.
Frohlich said he and his fellow judges have spoken before legislative committees to present the need for additional help. He's also made his plea to the AOC.
"It's really a political issue at this time," he said.
One of the politicians who will help decide the issue feels confident about its success. State Rep. Addie Wuchner, R-Florence, said the need for additional judges in Boone County has been well documented.
"It's an exceptionally pressing need," she said. "I feel very confident we'll be able to accomplish that in the nest session."
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