Taxpayers foot the high court bill

On Oct. 12 and 19 the Bangor Daily News reported the apparent budget problems of the district courts, with specific reference to their inability to handle the small claims caseload under recent “cutbacks” in funds. The judge’s principal reason for curtailing the service was “…significantly reduced … time available to perform the necessary administrative work required ….” The governor has agreed to tap the contingency fund to keep the small claims process going.

I accompanied a friend to Hancock District Court on three occasions over the past six months to resolve a non-criminal, alleged minor traffic violation….

My friend arrived at 9:30 a.m., as ordered, on the “trial” date, and sat in the courtroom until 11:30 a.m., at which time the judge again asked if the defendant wished a hearing. When the response was “yes,” my friend was informed all hearings would be held after 1 p.m. Shortly before 1 p.m., the arresting officer, the district attorney and my friend exchanged information which led to the case being filed.

My friend lost the better part of three days; the officer was probably unavailable for duty on at least two of those days; the court’s administrative expense in processing this matter must have exceeded the potential fine. The taxpayers of this state can’t afford this kind of administrative waste motion. Robert C. Dick Castine