INFORMATION IN THE LEGAL LITERATURE AND THE RESULTS OF A LIMITED SURVEY OF JUDGES, PROSECUTORS, AND PUBLIC DEFENDERS ARE USED TO IDENTIFY AN ARRAY OF JUDICIAL SERVICES PROVIDED BY STATE AND LOCAL GOVERNMENTS IN CALIFORNIA, COLORADO, CONNECTICUT, FLORIDA, LOUISIANA, TENNESSEE, TEXAS, AND WISCONSIN. THESE SERVICES ARE ANALYZED IN LIGHT OF ECONOMIC AND PUBLIC FINANCE THEORY. A MODEL OF AN OPTIMAL SYSTEM FOR PROVIDING AND PAYING FOR JUDICIAL SERVICES IS DEVELOPED, AND PREVIOUS RESEARCH AND METHODOLOGIES IN THE AREA ARE EXAMINED. THE EFFECTS ON EXPENDITURE OF DIFFERENCES IN GEOGRAPHICAL LOCATION, JUDICIAL SYSTEM, ORGANIZATIONAL STRUCTURE, AND ALLOCATION RESPONSIBILITY FOR JUDICIAL SERVICES BETWEEN STATE AND LOCAL LEVELS OF GOVERNMENT ARE EXAMINED. CONCLUSIONS, POLICY IMPLICATIONS, AND DIRECTIONS FOR FUTURE RESEARCH ARE DISCUSSED. APPENDIXES PRESENT SURVEY INSTRUMENTS AND INFORMATION ON METHODOLOGIES USED IN SURVEYS OF JUDICIAL PERSONNEL. AN APPENDIX DESCRIBING A 'STANDARD JUDICIAL SERVICE UNIT' IS FOLLOWED BY AN EXTENSIVE BIBLIOGRAPHY.