AI-assisted research summary: A presiding circuit judge may spend county law library funds for listed law-library and court-related purposes, may dispose of outdated library property, may direct the district court judge to help run the library, and the fund must be audited like other county general funds.
(a) In any county that has established a county law library fund pursuant to this chapter or pursuant to local act, and in any county which hereafter shall establish a law library fund pursuant to lawful authority, in addition to, and not to supersede, the authority granted to the presiding judge in a judicial circuit by such authority, the presiding circuit judge may authorize the moneys designated for the use of the law library to be expended for any of the following purposes: (1) The purchase of books, periodicals, equipment, software, hardware, furniture, fixtures, technology, and computers. (2) The cost of securing advice and attendance of witnesses. (3) Registration fees and expenses incurred by the judges and court employees when attending seminars, institutions, conferences, and other meetings related to continuing legal education and judicial education. Allowances and reimbursements for expenses incurred by the judges and court employees when attending seminars, institutions, conferences, and other meetings related to continuing legal education and judicial education shall be subject to the same guidelines which apply to the allowances and reimbursements provided to state employees and legislators. (4) Membership dues in legal and judicial organizations. (5) Salaries and benefits of court employees where necessary for the efficient operations of the courts of the county. The employees shall not be deemed to be employees of the county commission. (6) Necessary expenses incurred by the judges in promoting legal and judicial competency. (7) Necessary expenses of judges and court employees when ordered by the Chief Justice of the state Supreme Court to travel outside their districts or circuits on business. (8) Funding additional judges as approved. (9) Other expenses as determined necessary by the presiding circuit court judge to promote the efficient administration of justice. (b) Expenditures authorized in this section shall be made as provided in Section 11-25-6. (c) The presiding circuit court judge may sell, exchange, or otherwise dispose of books, periodicals, equipment, and other property of the law library as necessary to keep the library up to date. The presiding judge may use any proceeds from the sale or exchange to purchase new books, periodicals, equipment, or other property for the law library. Any property purchased with such funds as authorized by this subsection shall become the property of the county. (d) The presiding circuit court judge may designate the district court judge to operate or assist in the operation of the law library. (e) The moneys in each county law library fund shall be audited in the same manner and at the same time as other county general funds. (f) Nothing in this section shall require a set sum of money to be expended on maintaining the law library and effectively administering justice, nor shall any county commission be required to fund the maintenance of the law library from funds otherwise available to the county commission.