Chief Justice Hunstein to Give State of Judiciary Address

Chief Justice Carol Hunstein will tell lawmakers today that the state of Georgia’s judiciary remains strong, but it continues to struggle because of budget cuts in recent years.  Delays in criminal cases threaten the public safety. Delays in civil cases add to the cost of doing business in Georgia.

Based on a news release issued ahead of her speech, Hunstein is expected to emphasize the need for reform in how the state sentences criminal offenders.  “Georgia’s leaders in all three branches of government recognize that we can no longer afford the more than $1 billion it costs us annually to maintain the fourth-highest incarceration rate in the nation,” she will say in the annual address.

Chief Justice Hunstein will make the speech to a joint session of the state House and Senate at 11am.