Litigation

CA Budget Would Ease Court Closures

By Peter Hardin

The funding crisis for courts in California may be easing.

Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger’s latest budget proposal would end state welfare and health insurance programs, but he withdrew a plan to reduce court funds by $100 million, according to a San Francisco Chronicle article. In this scenario, it appears California could end its current one-day-a-month court closures and avert layoffs estimated to impact the San Francisco Superior Courts, for example, by one-fifth.

Chief Justice Ronald George said the closures have caused hardships as well as symbolic harm:

“A terrible message is conveyed when you to go a structure that’s designed to provide justice and it says, ‘Closed for business.’”

An earlier Gavel Grab post discussed budget crisis-driven layoffs, courtroom closings and delays around the country.

Full post as published by The Gavel on May 21, 2010 (boomark / email).