Learn here about the deepening financial crisis in superior courts statewide and the growing impacts on the public.

Statewide Impacts Since 2010:

Mandated public service reports since Jan 2010 as well as surveys with California’s 58 courts reflect the severe and growing impact of budget cuts:

• An estimated 77 courthouses and courtrooms have closed or are slated to close.
• 30 courts have had to reduce hours at public service counters.
• 15 courts have had to institute limited court service days (where the majority of courtrooms and clerk's offices are closed).

This summary comes from public notice statements the courts are required by law to provide when they reduce services to the public. These notices are posted on the California Courts website and are reported regularly to the Judicial Council and the State Legislature.

Budget Impact Snapshots by County:

Here are court-by-court details about the impacts of budget reductions on the public and legal practitioners. These snapshots were developed from information supplied by each court.

Use this map to see how judicial branch budget cuts are impacting  California counties.

More Statewide Details

Budget cuts have had major impact on court staffing:

• More than 2,000 court staff have been laid off.
• 50 courts report staff furloughs.
• 51 courts are leaving vacant positions unfilled.


These cuts are leading to longer drives to reach courthouses, longer lines at courthouses, and unprecedented case delays. With fewer facilities and staff, surveyed courts report:

• 38 have reduced self-help or family law facilitator services
• 36 no longer provide court reporters in civil, family, and probate matters
• 22 have reduced court interpreter services in civil cases (services in criminal cases are constitutionally required)
• More than a third have cut specialty courts—innovative problem-solving courts that serve the most vulnerable in society. Examples include drug court, homeless court, mental health court, youth court, and domestic violence court.
• 26 have reduced security measures
• In San Bernardino and Fresno, court users must now drive up to three hours to reach their closest courthouse
• Last year the Legislature passed, and the Governor signed, nearly 900 bills, which will impact court resources when new laws are applied, instituted, and interpreted
• Nearly 2 dozen critically needed courthouse construction projects are on hold, and many will not proceed unless funds are restored.


These additional cuts will cause further strain:

• Courts will be forced to implement more layoffs, close more courtrooms, and further reduce services and hours.
• Some courts anticipate having to shutter civil courtrooms entirely.
• Traffic, family, juvenile, probate and small claims issues will be delayed, and access to justice will be severely limited.
• Urgently needed courthouse projects will be delayed; more may have to be canceled.

 

Taxes shrink, fees rise, infrastructure funds raided: is this any way to fund a branch of government?