County earns state recognition

Published 10:13 pm Tuesday, December 20, 2005

Cullman County Circuit Court has received recognition on the state level for its case management efficiency during fiscal year 2005.

Chief Justice Drayton Nabers Jr. sent a personal memorandum to circuit judges Don Hardeman and Frank Brunner Tuesday commending them and their staffs for outstanding performance.

Based on caseload statistics recently released for the fiscal year which concluded in September, Hardeman and Brunner were assigned 2,650 cases. During this same period, case dispositions totaled 2,759 cases, resulting in a throughput ratio of 104.1 percent.

A throughput ratio greater than 100 percent equates to a court disposing of an equal number of cases that were filed as well as a portion of the pending caseload.

“The citizens of Cullman County are very fortunate to have judges such as these serving on the circuit bench. As reflected in the caseload statistics, these judges operate a most efficient court, and also one that is faithful to the rule of law,” Nabers said. “I congratulate Judges Hardeman and Brunner on this accomplishment and consider it an honor to serve with them.”

On behalf of the Circuit Court staff in Cullman County, Hardeman said he wished to thank the chief justice for this special recognition.

“Through the efficiency and hard work of the judges and staff we were able to dispose of 104 percent of our cases during fiscal year 2005. We always set a goal of 100 percent efficiency, but few courts ever achieve it,” Hardeman said. “On behalf of myself and Judge Brunner I want to emphasize that this wouldn’t be possible without our staff and local attorneys who work so hard to help us resolve these cases.”

When you take into account that the circuit court is operating understaffed it’s an even more impressive, Hardeman said.

“We’re now operating at significantly less staff than in 1980, which makes this even more of an accomplishment,” Hardeman said.

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