State courts to close Fridays
Written on February 28, 2009
State courts will close on Fridays starting March 13 as a result of cuts to the Oregon Judicial Department’s 2007-09 budget.
Oregon Chief Justice Paul J. De Muniz announced the closures Friday. The courts will remain closed on Fridays until at least June 30.
It’s possible that courts will remain closed on Fridays after June 30.
The state faces an $855 million shortfall in the two-year budget that ends June 30 and an additional shortfall of roughly $3 billion in the two-year budget that begins July 1.
“These budget reductions are a huge blow to Oregon’s courts and the people we serve and will affect public safety, the welfare of children, and everyone who needs their day in court,” De Muniz said. “Oregonians will have the unfortunate opportunity to learn how justice delayed means justice denied no faxing payday loans.”
The closures came after the Legislature’s Ways and Means Committee approved an $11.1 million cut to the Judicial Department’s budget.
The full Legislature needs to approve the cut and it needs to be signed by Gov. Ted Kulongoski before it becomes law.
As a result of the closures, all Judicial Department employees will take 16 unpaid days before the end of June.
De Muniz said will issue a formal order to close the courts when the governor signs the budget reduction into law, which is expected next week.
The closures will affect more than 12,000 trials and will delay most proceedings, including civil cases.
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