Phil Matier: Court Improvements Over Budget, Behind Schedule

SAN FRANCISCO (KCBS) - A scathing report was released Wednesday about the project that is supposed to modernize and link court computers in California's 58 counties. KCBS and Chronicle Insider Phil Matier said that according to a new state audit the project has soared in cost from $260 million, to as much as $1.9 billion. The state auditor says the California Court Case Management System is now so far over budget and behind schedule that it should be put on hold and reconsidered.

KCBS' Phil Matier:

The system has been beset with problems since it was started a decade ago. It was supposed to be finished in 2008, but the state auditor says it may not be ready until 2016, and even then it could be incomplete.

Judicial Council officials tell the Los Angeles Times that they agree with some of the audit's findings and have taken corrective steps. But they say they will not delay installing the system.

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