Two Trial Courts in California are closing their courtrooms and furlough staff once a month in an effort to save some money in the states financial crisis. Closing these courts on the third Wednesday of every month for the next fiscal year is supposed to save the state over $18 million dollars.
Local leaders were waiting for the state to coordinate a statewide closure plan to emerge from all of the budget negotiations, but they couldn’t wait any longer.
Los Angeles County Superior Court officials expected to have just 43 of 600 courtrooms open countywide to process restraining orders, in-custody arraignments, juvenile dependency cases and other time-sensitive matters. Ninety-three percent of the court’s 5,000 employees will be furloughed, spokeswoman Mary Hearn said.
The closures have left attorneys like those at the Children’s Law Center scrambling. Wednesday is typically the busiest day of the week for the agency that represents more than 20,000 Los Angeles County children in dependency court. Cases brought into the foster care system on a Friday, Saturday or Sunday must be filed in court by the following Wednesday to meet a three-day statutory deadline.
Just two of 20 dependency courts are expected to be operating in Los Angeles on Wednesday. On top of that, the Children’s Law Center, faced with its own $1.2 million budget cut, will have only a skeleton crew of 20 attorneys working, said Executive Director Leslie Starr Heimov. Other attorneys and staff will be taking a furlough day, she said.
Even though many courtrooms will be closed, LA courthouse doors will remain open so attorneys can file papers. The closure is not considered a holiday and paperwork dropped off by 4:30 will receive filing stamps.
Check out the original article: Los Angeles to Close 557 Courtrooms
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