(Radio Iowa) — The chief justice of Iowa’s Supreme Court is asking legislators for a significant, seven-point-two MILLION dollar boost in the budget for Iowa courts.  Cady would direct a third of that increase to a digitial initiative, using the money to develop electronic warrants and start paying for the court’s digital services with taxpayer dollars rather than court fees. Cady’s also warns lawmakers fewer people are applying to be judges because of the pay. He’s asking for nearly one-point-nine MILLION dollars extra to finance a four percent hike in judicial salaries.

The other big-ticket item in Cady’s request to lawmakers is for rural courthouses. Cady’s asking for enough funding to hire 37 more full-timers to work in the clerks of court offices. Cady outlined his requests this (Wednesday) morning during the annual “Condition of the Judiciary” speech at the statehouse.