COUNTY'S COURTS CHANGE THEIR WAYS

Reorganization, Hard Work Show Good Results

Taunted for flabbiness a year ago, the criminal courts in Santa Clara County
have shaped up.

Last year, the court was knocked by a critical audit, undertaken by the
county supervisors, that ranked it last in efficiency among the 17 major
counties in the state.

It was stung by stories in the Mercury News that noted a suspicious
coincidence of empty courtrooms and full golf carts on Friday afternoons.

Since then the backlog of cases has been cut in half, and denizens of the
courthouse have noted a change in attitude.

A new presiding judge, Jack Komar, has taken office, with expectations from
within the court system and from the public to find efficiencies.

Among the organizational changes is a separate five-judge court to deal with
drug cases, which are the most numerous kind.

Komar has been assisted by some other improvements that were not within the
power of the court to accomplish by itself.

A proposition passed by voters authorized the unification of municipal and
superior courts into one 79-judge system, giving the assigning judge more
flexibility in seeking the most efficient deployment of judges.

Additional public defenders and prosecutors have been hired, meaning cases
are less likely to be stalled for lack of anyone to prosecute or defend them.

As a result of all the changes, the number of felony cases awaiting trial
has dropped from 1,000 on June 30, 1998, to 503 as of May 10.

Fewer suspects awaiting trial has meant fewer prisoners in the crowded
county jail.

A year ago, the courts were hauled up on charges of insufficient attention
to duty.

A year later, the court's judges can report to their judges -- the public --
that they have changed their ways.