The Economist magazine is highly respected in the business and conservative intellectual communities. So it is perhaps an important milestone when it joins the chorus on the damage that underfunding of courts is doing to the social and economic fabric.
The article, in the October 1 issue, talks about backlogs and impact on the economy. It cites to the recent ABA study, and in a publication more widely read outside the US, will have an additional impact on the way international business looks at the costs of doing business in the US.
Interestingly, for a publication that can focus on the failures of efficiency of government, it does not apply anti-governmental rhetoric to the courts. This may be an important sign that the business community is coming to realize its stake in functioning courts. Lets hope that, as in New York, they also realize their stake in access to justice.
Richard Zorza's Access to Justice Blog 
If the bridge to the courthouse is closed because of lack of repairs you naturally care more about transportation funding. If your child is in public schools where there are too many kids in the class you care about education funding. But we need to remember that when someone needs access to justice they more often need it now. If your parents are going through a divorce you want to know where you are going to live. If you are the victim of a crime or accident closure will not occur until the legal proceedings are completed. If your business cannot collect debt your business closes. The budget situation for courts is not going to improve overnight but articles like this help.