Judges in Fla., NY Warn of Court Closings, Layoffs Due to Budget Problems
Judges in Florida and New York are warning that budget cuts could have serious consequences for courts in their states.
Circuit chief judges in Florida discussed a plan this week to keep courts operating if Florida Gov. Rick Scott does not approve an emergency loan by Friday. Under the plan, courts will be closed for four days next week and 10 days in May, according to the Orlando Sentinel, the St. Petersburg Times and the Miami Herald.
The St. Petersburg Times outlines other measures in the plan: eliminating case managers and senior judges handling the mortgage foreclosure backlog, laying off traffic court hearing officers and moving their cases to other judges, and stopping funding for interpreters and transcripts.
Florida courts need $50 million to keep operating through June 30.
In New York, the state’s chief justice is also warning about the effects of budget cuts, the New York Law Journal reports. In a Web address to court employees, Chief Judge Jonathan Lippman said hundreds of layoffs may be needed.
Prior coverage:
ABAJournal.com: “As Lawmakers Wield Budget Ax, Courts Struggle to Do More with Less, Plan Layoffs”
