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Tuesday, February 17, 2009
Courts - Massachusetts' top judge says courts are in crisis
From today's Boston Globe, a story by Megan Woolhouse. Some quotes:
The economic downturn could have a devastating impact on the American justice system as courts are forced to lay off employees and cut down on court hours, Massachusetts' top judge said yesterday."I shall be blunt: Our state courts are in crisis," Supreme Judicial Court Chief Justice Margaret H. Marshall told members of the American Bar Association at its midyear meeting at the Hynes Veterans Memorial Convention Center. "A perfect storm of circumstances threatens much of what we know, or think we know, about our American system of justice."
Marshall said courts across the country are reviewing their budgets and making "painful choices."
New Hampshire's judicial branch will halt civil and criminal jury trials for a month to save on per diem payments to jurors. It will also postpone filling seven of the state's 59 vacant judgeships this year. Budget cuts in Florida have left 280 court employees without jobs and more layoffs are expected. In Maine, the courts have loosened security, no longer staffing magnetic security machine checkpoints at local courthouses.
Posted by Marcia Oddi on February 17, 2009 02:08 PM
Posted to Courts in general