LOCAL JUDGES HELP OUT IN URBAN COURTS

Cape Girardeau County judges have been doing their part to speed up justice elsewhere in the state. As part of a statewide judicial transfer program, judges from rural counties are routinely asked to help lighten the tremendous backlog of cases in St. Louis and Kansas City.

But one has to wonder if the backlog of cases in metropolitan areas is due to a rising number of cases or the work ethic of urban judges, attorneys and staff.

In metropolitan areas, little happens before 9 a.m., and everything ends by 5 p.m. Our judges and juries often keep working until the job is done, which can make for some pretty long days.

In the bigger cities, longer lunch hours and shorter working days may contribute to the case backlog.

The program of sending in relief judges has been in place for more than 20 years in Missouri. The transfers are cost effective. Judges are paid by the state, not individual counties. The transfer process negates the need for more judges, which actually saves the taxpayers money.

But there's a down side as well. While local judges spend up to a week at a time elsewhere, they can't get their own work done at home. That can be frustrating.

Local taxpayers should feel proud that the local circuit is run so efficiency and effectively. Perhaps the example our judges set at home will be a compelling role model for judicial circuits in other parts of the state.