California Courts Lose Millions of Dollars in Budget Compromise

The budget compromise approved by the California legislature is expected to take at least $186 million out of the budget for state courts.

Many of the cuts were expected, the Daily Journal reports (sub. req.). Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger had already proposed a $146 million funding cut for court operations, and the legislature trimmed an extra $40 million from a fund for court construction projects, the story says.

California isn’t alone in struggling to find money for courts. At least 46 states face funding shortfalls that threaten the ability of courts to continue to operate, Massachusetts Chief Justice Margaret Marshall told the ABA House of Delegates at the association’s midyear meeting this week. Marshall is president of the Conference of Chief Justices.