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Trial lawyers are throwing a monkey wrench into the fight raging between judges and clerks.

Lawmakers want to take financial oversight duties from county clerks and delegate the task to the circuit courts in an effort to save money. Monday trial lawyers filed a suit with the state Supreme Court saying county clerks should have the right to decide how filing fees are spent. Last year fee money was used to fund state prisons. Attorney Sid Mathews filed lawsuit.

“I’m a user who just spent my user fee for access to the courts. My fellow lawyers paid good money as users of the system and our money got spent on the prisons, now we’re just a little bit upset about that and we’re mad as you know what and we’re not going to take it anymore,” said Mathews.

Lawmakers have been increasing court fees to make up for the budget shortfall. Mathews says since all the money isn’t being spent on courts, the fee is actually a secret tax.