Illinois Supreme Court Chief Justice Thomas Kilbride '81 has asked lawmakers to appropriate about $347 million in general revenue funds for the court’s fiscal year 2014 budget.

Acknowledging the state’s tight fiscal situation and how the tough economic times have hurt courts throughout the nation, Kilbride said the need to be properly funded is "even greater now.”

He also reminded lawmakers that the court’s budget makes up "less than one half of one percent of the entire state budget” and said if they make a simple "rounding error,” they could fully fund the court.

"I would urge you to make that error,” Kilbride joked.

Read more in The Madison-St.Clair Record, "Kilbride makes court's FY14 budget request; Urges lawmakers to make 'rounding error'"