Judge Calls For Courthouses To Open 5 Days A Week

SACRAMENTO -California’s chief justice says shutting down courthouses one day a month should no longer be considered an option for helping the state close its budget deficit.

Supreme Court Justice Ronald George said lawmakers instead should consider extending a user fee paid by defendants. It is projected to raise $40 million for court-related security through June 30, 2011.

He addressed a joint session of the Assembly and Senate on Tuesday during his annual State of the Judiciary speech.

State courts have been closed the third Wednesday of each month since September to partially absorb a $380 million cut to their budgets. The cut did not include $65 million in unfunded costs.

The closures, plus furloughs of more than 20,000 staff members that are scheduled to last until July, are projected to save about $63 million California’s chief justice says shutting down courthouses one day a month should no longer be considered an option for helping the state close its budget deficit.