Circuit Judge Michael Taylor of Brookhaven and Chief Justice Bill Waller Jr. of Jackson outlined the budget needs for state drug courts at the judicial system’s annual luncheon with attorney members of the Legislature on Jan. 22 at the Gartin Justice Building in Jackson.

Judge Taylor also talked about fundamentals of legal writing during a Bench-Bar Liaison Committee seminar for law clerks on Jan. 23 in Jackson. About 75 law clerks who work for trial courts across the state as well as the appellate courts participated in the day-long writing program. Chancery Judge Ed Patten of Hazlehurst moderated a panel that included Judge Taylor, Chancery Judge Jerry Mason of Meridian, Circuit Judge Andrew Howorth of Oxford and Mississippi Bar President-Elect Roy Campbell III of Jackson. U.S. Magistrate Judge Keith Ball of Jackson talked about ethics for law clerks. U.S. District Judge Dan Jordan of Jackson and 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals Judge Leslie Southwick of Jackson each spoke about legal writing.

During the legislative luncheon, Chief Justice Waller told lawmakers that he hopes to see drug court enrollment increase. More than 3,400 people are enrolled in drug courts statewide. “We are looking for each drug court district to serve up to 150 participants, so you are going to see a good return on your investment. These are people who would otherwise be in jail.”

Chief Justice Waller estimated that drug courts produce $46 million in savings by avoiding incarceration costs of those drug court participants. Fines collected from drug court participants statewide totaled $1.1 million in 2014.

Judge Taylor, who is a member of the policy setting Drug Court Advisory Committee, told lawmakers that funding for drug courts is tied to individual drug court enrollment.

“We are giving out no additional funding without increased participation,” he told legislators. “We are not passing out money.”

The 14th Circuit Drug Court of Lincoln, Pike and Walthall counties, with a monthly enrollment of more than 200 people, generates almost as much money as it spends. The program spends about $300,000 a year. The Drug Court collects about $200,000 in fines that are paid to the counties. The 14th Circuit program collects about $70,000 in fees each year from participants. Fees help support the program.

The Legislature last year created the Office of Drug Court Compliance and called for implementation of evidence-based practices, uniform certification in state drug courts, and more specific data collection. Judge Taylor told legislators that the Drug Court Advisory Committee was implementing all the measures required in last year’s sentencing reform legislation.