By Paul Tuthill
http://stream.publicbroadcasting.net/production/mp3/wamc/local-wamc-968895.mp3
Boston, MA – The Massachusetts State Senate this week is expected to take up a bill to overhaul the state's court system. The Massachusetts House, last week, unanimously passed the measure which was written in response to hiring and promotion abuses in the court administered Probation Department. WAMC's Pioneer Valley Bureau Chief Paul Tuthill reports
The bill, which was sponsored by the Speaker of the House, Robert DeLeo would create a new civilian court administrator , who would be responsible for general oversight, asking for appropriations and approving contracts and leases. People applying for jobs would have to pass a written test before being interviewed. There would be a paper trial for each job applicant, including letters of recommendations, which would be made public if the applicant is hired.
State Represenative Benjamin Swann of Springfield says the bill was the legislature's response to a report last year that found political patronage rampant in the probation department..
The critical report by independent counsel Paul Ware said there was an understanding between certain legislators and the former probation commissioner John O-Brien that his department's budget would be linked to his willingness to give jobs and promotions to people recommended by legislators.
Swann says the reforms approved by the House are a stab at taking politics out of the personnel decisions
In passing the court reform bill unanimously, the House rejected Governor Deval Patrick's proposal to merge the Probation Department and the Massachusetts Parole Board and put both under the control of the executive branch.
Gov. Patrick argued it would make sense to merge probation and parole, since both perform similar functions and there could be budget savings as a result.
Mass. Lt Gov. Timothy Murray said the bill passed by the house is encouraging, because it means there will be change.
Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court Chief Justice Roderick Ireland took the unusual step of appearing with House Speaker DeLeo at a news conference last month to endorse the court reform bill DeLeo filed. State Representative Sean Curran says the backing of the chief justice was a big factor in his decision to vote for the bill.
The Massachusetts Bar Association praised the house bill saying it will help professionalize trial court management.