FUND THE ENTIRE COURT SYSTEM & VOCA
At Hot Topics, we often ask our panelists, "Do you have a call to action for the League of Women Voters of Orange County and its 800+ members?"
In March, the women leading our local justice system gave a clear and urgent answer: Use your voices to demand increased funding for our court system to keep pace with the growing population of our area.
In response, we’ve created two important petitions: one directed to Florida legislators, who will begin a special budget session on May 12th, and another to the Florida Attorney General’s office, calling for the restoration of Victims of Crime Act funding to support victims of domestic abuse.
You can help make a real difference. Sign these petitions today and share this link with your network to send a powerful message on behalf of our community. Together, we can amplify our voices and demand the change we need.
✅We ask that the Legislature fully fund all the Ninth Judicial Circuit Court at a level that reflects its population and fund the entire state court system at 1 percent of the state budget.
The Ninth Judicial Circuit Court of Florida, and Orange and Osceola Courts, represent one of the fastest growing regions in the country. While by population it is the second largest, it is the third largest circuit in the number of judges. Although the Judicial is a coequal branch of the Florida government, the state court system accounts for only 0.7% of the state budget. The state may increase judicial positions, but it is not keeping pace with the required administrative positions— clerk staff, public defenders and state attorneys — to process cases in a timely and efficient manner. The result is that justice is being delayed.
✅We ask that Clerks are allowed to retain a greater percentage of the fines, fees, service charges, and court costs collected within their respective communities.
Florida’s Clerks of Court serve as the operational backbone of the State’s justice system, yet the current Clerk funding model has not kept pace with inflation, population growth, and the increased operational demands resulting from expanded statutory and stakeholder mandates. The result is an ongoing structural budget shortfall that places critical Clerk services at risk.
✅We ask that the Legislature increase funding for mental health care at State Hospitals to decrease the unduly long wait times for treatment in both criminal and civil cases.
Our juvenile justice and mental health services are operating at crisis levels due to funding restraints. This sadly results in long waiting times for treatment and a lack of appropriate medical services. Our local jail has become one of the largest mental health providers in the state. Lack of adequate treatment leads to more crimes being committed upon release, and heightened recidivism. This is a disservice to the community and a tragedy for those suffering a mental health crisis.
✅We ask the VOCA Funding Department under the Florida Attorney General office to recalculate the Ninth Circuit State Attorney Office benchmarks for federalVictims of Crime Act funding to be in line with statistical data representing the victims in this jurisdiction.
In a break from the past 40 years, VOCA funding for the Ninth Circuit does not reflect historical data. Last year there were over 11,000 cases of domestic violence in Orange and Osceola counties, but the VOCA funding for them was set at 689, far fewer than the 3750 requested on the application.
Protection from violence should never be political. Funding for victim advocacy is essential to public safety, ensuring survivors can access protection, navigate the justice system, and begin to heal. When these resources are disrupted, fewer victims receive help at the exact moment they need it most. This is not a partisan issue—it is a community responsibility.
✅We, the undersigned, respectfully urge legislators to address these requests with increased funding and sustainable solutions.