Litigation

Funding Crisis Shuts Some Los Angeles Courtrooms

By Peter Hardin

Nowhere is the impact of the economic crunch on our courts more vivid than in California: 17 courtrooms in the Los Angeles system have been shuttered, and an additional 50 may be closed in September unless there is an infusion of money, Huffington Post reports.

A bleak picture emerges, with a decision in the hands of the California Judicial Council:

“The crisis results from the financially troubled state’s decision to slash $393 million from state trial courts in the budget this year. The state also has been closing all California courthouses on the third Wednesday of every month, with employees unpaid for those days.”

Superior Court Judge Charles W. McCoy Jr. called the current situation “unprecedented.” He added,  “Even during the Great Depression we did not close down court operations. We kept the courts open.”

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 April 23, 2010 (boomark / email).