California Judicial Branch Video Paints Grim Picture of Budget-Strapped Courts
Posted by Eric Winkler on Fri, Jan 20, 2012 @ 04:32 PM
The California Judicial Branch has posted a video outlining the impacts to several courts of the Branch's budget cuts made by Governor Jerry Brown and the California Legislature.
You can view the newly-posted video on the Judicial Branch's website by clicking here.
If you don't have time to view the whole piece, then here are a few take aways that you may find of interest:
-
Though the Judicial Branch budget was cut by $660 million (including $310 million taken from the court construction fund) last year, Governor Brown said on January 5th that more cuts are likely.
-
The Los Angeles Superior Court has laid off 329 people.
-
The Sacramento Superior Court has reduced its staff by 285 in two years and the court executive officer says the remaining staff are, "hanging on by their fingernails."
-
23 of the state's courts have shut down courtrooms.
"Our passion and commitment lies with the public," said Chief Justice Tani Cantil-Sakauye at the end of the video. "When we're closed, when our hours are reduced, when those with causes popular and unpopular can't get into the court, what we see, I think, is the diminution of the rule of the law which is our legacy, our foundation, and I submit, our birthright."