In the last five years, the California judicial branch has been cut $1 billion, a reduction of nearly 65 percent. The California state court system, the largest in the world, serves 38 million people and is struggling to do so in a manner that is fair and just.
Latest News
May 15, 2013
Budget Woes Mean Big Delays For Small Claims CourtsNational Public Radio
Los Angeles County Superior Court will soon reduce the number of courthouses at which it hears small claims cases from 27 to just six. The county also plans to close down eight courthouses entirely.
May 15, 2014
Brown Offers No New Money for CourtsThe RecorderGovernor Jerry Brown on Tuesday unveiled a revised spending plan that contains no additional money for California's courts, dashing the hopes of judicial leaders who were counting on improved state finances and their own spending overhaul to trigger more funding from Sacramento.
May 14, 2013
California courts get bad budget news Mercury NewsCalifornia's massive court system will not share in any of the new revenue bounty in Gov. Jerry Brown's revised budget plan.
May 12, 2013
Court cuts could create huge setbacks in San Mateo CountySan Francisco Examiner“We used to have a courtwide standard where we’d pick up the phone on the third ring,” (Court Executive Officer John) Fitton said. “Now it can take as long as 30 to 40 minutes to get to a person. That’s a significant delay.”
May 8, 2013
Assembly speaker outlines budget plansLos Angeles Times
"I applaud the speaker’s leadership in articulating the need to begin reinvesting in the courts," (Chief Justice Tani Cantil-Sakauye) said in a statement. "His knowledge and understanding of the equal access to justice issues are a great benefit to all Californians."
May 8, 2013
Debtor's PurgatoryEast Bay Express
People who can't afford to hire an attorney have virtually no chance in court against well-heeled lawyers for banks and debt collection companies
Apr 29, 2013
Can new funding model help ease S.J. courts' pain?Stockton Record
A new formula is geared to address the inequality by basing a portion of trial court budgets on the cases they handle. By the end of the five-year period, 50 percent of allocated money will be based on workload.
Apr 26, 2013
Court System Is on Life SupportMetNews
California's civil court system, in short, has turned into a debtor's purgatory. "Most people who come in here make $18 an hour, tops, and lawyers charge $250 an hour," said Phil Rapier, a tenant lawyer in Oakland. "Nobody can afford that."
Apr 20, 2013
South L.A. residents decry closing of juvenile court, other cutsLos Angeles TimesIn the coming months, the Kenyon Juvenile Justice Center will be one of eight regional courthouses closing as the Los Angeles court system struggles to close an $85-million budget shortfall by July 1."If you shut these courts down," Marcus Bell, a gang intervention and prevention worker in South Los Angeles, said, "where's the justice going to come from? It's going to come from the street."
Apr 9, 2013
Budget cuts force California courts to delay trials, ax services Los Angeles TimesCalifornia courts, reeling from years of state budget cuts, are delaying hearings and trials, allowing records to sit unprocessed for months and slashing services at public windows, a judge's committee has reported.
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