ATLANTA — An internal audit obtained by Channel 2 Action News recommends the city of Atlanta reduce the number active municipal courtrooms from nine to four.
The audit, ordered by the city council, concludes cutting the number of judges and court staff related to those courtrooms would save taxpayers $2.3 million dollars each year.
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Channel 2's Tom Regan obtained the report on Thursday. The document showed the number of cases heard in Atlanta municipal court has remained flat over the past three years but the city has increased the municipal court budget.
The audit also stated that the case workload in the last six months of fiscal year 2010 required judges to spent only 28 percent of their time on the bench.
The city auditor's report also gave the city council a list of judges to review and suggested reducing the number of charges that require court appearance. Other recommendations included staggering court session schedules to reduce wait time and potential overcrowding.
Regan spoke with Atlanta City Auditor Leslie Ward. Ward told him she would withhold comment on the audit until the city council reviewed the findings.
The chief municipal court judge did not return a call for comment.