Judiciary may implement 32-hour workweek

by Sabrina Salas Matanane

Guam - Vice Speaker B.J. Cruz, himself a former chief justice of the Supreme Court of Guam, said following today's State of the Judiciary Address what needs to addressed is government agencies who are spending beyond their means while the court continues to be shortchanged.

He told KUAM News, "If you look at the revenue and financial statement that was issued April 15, you go down and see the fact that the Judiciary has not got its full allotment and you'll look and see that there are certain departments that have overspent already. The Department of Administration is $12 million overspent. A number of other agencies have already spent above 50% and we're only at the halfway mark as of March 15. So...some people are getting better treatment and it really is a disservice to the judiciary and insult to the legislature that went through and passed this legislation that says they should get 100% funding and it's not being done we'll have to talk to the Department of Administration about that."

Chairman of the Committee on Judiciary Senator Adolpho Palacios he too is concerned about court's cash crisis, saying, "I hope Adelup and the governor would have an improved attitude with respect to releasing the allotment at least 90% no less of what it's entitled to. I had information that they're still owed from previous budgets back to 2004 they're entitled to that because it's supposed to roll over."