Missouri Supreme Court Chief Justice Patricia Breckenridge told lawmakers Tuesday all of state government needs to honor state employees.
"Our 3,400 employees serve in your courts and every year are asked to do more with less," Breckenridge said near the beginning of her State of the Judiciary address. "I encourage you to visit a local courthouse and meet these dedicated professionals who embrace their responsibility to treat every person fairly and equitably and to resolve disputes according to the law."
Breckenridge reminded the joint session of the General Assembly Missouri government's "employees are the lowest-paid in the nation. Despite this, they are hardworking, dedicated and deserving of our respect.
"I know budget times are tight, but we must find a way to pay them 21st century wages for 21st century work."
Several Mid-Missouri lawmakers liked that part of her address.
"I was extremely pleased that she recognized state employees," Sen. Mike Kehoe, R-Jefferson City, told the News Tribune, "although state employees, as we both know, want more than a standing ovation."
Rep. Jay Barnes, R-Jefferson City, added: "I agree with the statement about state employee pay."
In her 24-minute address, Breckenridge also noted Missouri's courts are busy places.
"In the last fiscal year, more than 1.8 million cases were filed in Missouri courts," she said. "Of these, 60 percent involved municipal ordinance violations.
"In our circuit courts, the largest number of cases involve the prosecution of state crimes."
Breckenridge said only 17 percent of circuit court cases are civil rather than criminal proceedings, primarily small claims, domestic relations, landlord-tenants and disputes of less than $25,000.
"About 5 percent of civil cases - and fewer than 1 percent of all cases - involve tort claims like wrongful death or personal injury," she said.
Breckenridge noted Missouri business and political leaders - including Gov. Eric Greitens - "have called for changes in the law governing certain types of cases. Do not view these calls for action as a condemnation of our judicial system."
Senate Judiciary Chairman Bob Dixon, R-Springfield, said he appreciated that comment: "I think (she) aptly pointed out that any reforms or reforms to the system - tort cases or tort laws - should not be viewed as an attack on the courts."
Breckenridge said Missourians "can be proud of our courts, where they go to resolve their disputes peaceably and where their constitutional rights are protected. Day in and day out, in courtrooms in your communities, hundreds of thousands of cases are adjudicated without fanfare.
"We, more than anyone, want our courts to live up to their responsibilities to properly administer justice."
Rep. Travis Fitzwater, R-Holts Summit, told the News Tribune: "I'm very proud of our courts. They have done, in my opinion, a phenomenal job of working for our communities and being as fair as possible to our constituents - and doing the best they can, based on the statutes that we have in place."
Breckenridge thanked lawmakers for supporting the years-long automation efforts that led to electronic filings now required in all judicial circuits and the availability of Case.net as an online docket reporting service available to all with a computer, "which provides information about more than 20 million cases statewide and receives an average of 5 million hits every workday."
But people using Case.net only can see docket entries - not copies of the court filings that are the heart of lawsuits and legal arguments.
"You cannot access those documents without going to a courthouse and using a public computer terminal," Breckenridge said. "The Missouri Court Automation Committee has recommended the judiciary allow remote access, but expansion of public access to case records can be done only if the security and reliability of the court's essential operations can be guaranteed."
She said the proposed expanding the system will require more resources than are available, and suggested the courts and Legislature may need to consider subscription fees or pay-per-view charges like those assessed by federal courts.
"I think we always had a good working relationship with the Judiciary," Sen. Caleb Rowden, R-Columbia, said, "and we rely on them for expertise in a lot of stuff. I think they'll tell us what they need, and we'll do our best to make sure it happens."