A look back: July 27, 1996

In a ruling that could cost the state up to $1 billion a year, the state Supreme Court on Friday ruled the state must begin paying county court expenses.

At issue are costs ranging from salaries for judges’ staff members and prothonotaries to basic costs of operating judicial buildings.

In a nine-page decision, the court ruled the state failed to comply with a 1987 order requiring the state to pay court costs. In that order, the high court ruled disparate funding by separate counties did not fulfill the constitutional requirement to create a “unified judicial system.”

The decision orders the appointment of a special master who will set up the scheme for funding.