EAST CHICAGO | Lake County Superior Court Judge Calvin Hawkins on Monday criticized county policies that are affecting the services of his East Chicago courtroom.

The judge spoke Monday afternoon on One Year Later -- the anniversary of his appointment to the struggling East Chicago bench.

Hawkins is the only judge in the East Chicago courthouse, which has suffered from historically low case filings and was targeted for closure. Since Hawkins assumed the bench, filings have doubled and tripled from the number of filings a year ago.

Hawkins reiterated Monday his opposition to the random filing system that the civil courts will begin next year. He argued judges have specific expertise in certain areas and maintained attorneys should have the right to select who will hear their cases.

The bulk of Hawkins' speech focused on inefficiencies, staffing concerns and problems in his courthouse.

He said the clerk's office on the lower level is woefully understaffed.

"We need another full-time person in that office and I charge the county clerk to get that done before the end of calendar year 2008," he said. "It is unacceptable to do otherwise."

Lake County has been slicing, rather than adding to its 2009 budget this fiscal season.

He expressed concern with a plan to cut the Sheriff's Department's satellite office out of East Chicago.

"What about the processing of papers and of cases, and the monies that go to the sheriff's office?" Hawkins asked.

He chastised Lake County commissioners for not addressing his complaints, pointing to the shabby interior of the courthouse, the lack of a computer and telephone terminal for the security bailiff and too few maintenance staff.

Hawkins said the civil court staff is functioning on a "bare-bones budget."

He said he proposed he and the other judges cut their salaries to save other jobs in the civil division, but he was rebuffed.