Justice suggests audits of Supreme Court spending

Wednesday, March 25, 1998 | 11:30 a.m.

During a court administrative hearing, Young said the audits and inventories are necessary to keep track of spending and court property.

"We deal with a lot of money, an $18 million budget," Young said Tuesday.

A legislative audit released last year found the court couldn't account for about 10 percent of its equipment and furnishings, mostly office furnishings. The audit also found that six checks totaling $379,280 were written to lower courts for automation improvements but were not sent.

When the audit was released, Justice Bob Rose was critical of former court administrator Don Mello. Two uncashed checks for $125,000 were found in Mello's desk when he left his position under pressure from justices. Equipment also was reported missing from the court, but later was returned.

Rose and Young earlier this year petitioned the court to conduct regular spending audits and inventories of court property.

Young said Tuesday the Legislature audits the court too infrequently, only once every six years or seven years. He said the court should pay for regular independent audits.

Chief Justice Charles Springer advised Young to put his proposals into an order that could be approved by the court at a future administrative hearing.