Metropolitan News-Enterprise

 

Thursday, September 19, 2002

 

Page 4

 

Los Angeles Superior Court Leaders Approve Plan for Budget Cuts

 

By a MetNews Staff Writer

 

The Los Angeles Superior Court’s Executive Committee yesterday adopted a framework for slashing the court’s budget that includes 150 additional layoffs by Nov. 1 and possible closure of 29 courtrooms.

Layoff notifications are due to go out the first week of October.

The proposal also contemplates replacing deputy sheriffs currently working in courthouse custody facilities with civilian custody assistants and what the court referred to in a news release as “operationally ineffectual lock-ups.”

Presiding Judge James Bascue said in the release that no specific decisions have yet been made about individual courtrooms that may be subject to closure or transfer of caseloads.

Bascue, Assistant Presiding Judge Robert Dukes and a subcommittee are to work with the court’s executive staff to make specific decisions regarding layoffs and closures.

The court last month already laid off 168 employees. Court leaders have said additional cuts are needed to address a $57.3 million deficit in the court’s budget for the current fiscal year.

 

Copyright 2002, Metropolitan News Company