Judicial Council Announces CY 2023 American Rescue Plan Act Funding: More Than $39 Million Awarded Among 37 Judicial Circuits

Judicial Council Announces CY 2023 American Rescue Plan Act Funding: More Than $39 Million Awarded Among 37 Judicial Circuits

Atlanta – The Judicial Council of Georgia Ad Hoc Committee on American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) Funding (“Committee”) has awarded grants totaling $39,476,327 to be distributed among 37 judicial circuits that applied for CY 2023 funding. The Committee accepted applications from September 15, 2022, through September 30, 2022, for the award period beginning January 1,2023. These awards kick off the second year of the Judicial Council’s ARPA grant program.

In 2022, grants totaling $44,147,105 were awarded to 42 of Georgia’s 50 judicial circuits. Of the 37 CY 2023 awardees, 36 were granted ARPA funding in 2022. With this round of awards, 43 of the 50 judicial circuits will have received grants since the grant program began January 1, 2022.

The majority of circuits plan to continue their current backlog response plans, which includes funding for temporary personnel to respond to the case backlog, such as senior judges and judges to serve by designation; assistant district attorneys; security personnel; investigators and victim support staff; and court reporters. Funding is also being provided for rental costs for temporary space to hold court, supplies and materials, mandatory education and training for certain personnel, and staff to support grant administration.

Background on Judicial ARPA Funding

Georgia’s judiciary operated under a Statewide Judicial Emergency Order from March 2020 through June 2021. The order placed necessary limitations on court operations to protect the health and safety of those working in and coming to courthouses during this time but also resulted in a backlog of criminal and civil cases, particularly those requiring jury trials to resolve.

In October 2021, Gov. Brian P. Kemp announced the allocation to the judicial branch of $110 million of ARPA funds to address backlogs of court cases, particularly cases involving serious violent felonies. The Judicial Council is administering $96 million of that total for eligible courts, prosecutors, and related agencies. The remaining $14 million in ARPA funds was allocated to the Georgia Public Defender Council for grants to public defenders.

The Committee, chaired by Supreme Court of Georgia Chief Justice Michael P. Boggs, is overseeing the application process for the grants, and the Judicial Council’s Administrative Office of the Courts is facilitating the grant application, award, compliance, and reporting processes. The funds are awarded on a calendar year basis and all funds allocated to the judicial branch must be spent by December 31, 2024.

“As anticipated, circuits continue to experience challenges in ramping up their local court backlog plans due to start-up and hiring challenges. However, we are hopeful that those challenges will subside, and we’ll see circuit plans fully implemented and an increasing number of cases moved,” said Chief Justice Boggs. “I am appreciative for the progress that has been made around the state thus far and thank the circuits for their efforts.”

A complete list of CY 2023 grantees and award amounts is attached. Funding decisions are based on demonstrated need as long as funding remains available. The Committee will next accept applications from April 1 to April 15, 2023, for the award period beginning June 1, 2023. More information on grant requirements, Committee policies, frequently asked questions, application timelines, and contact information is available at https://jcaoc.georgiacourts.gov/arpa/.

Ad Hoc Committee on American Rescue Plan Act Funding – CY 2023 Awards Table by Circuit

For more information:
Bruce Shaw
bruce.shaw@georgiacourts.gov
404-656-6783