The economy is quick to burn a hole in California’s judicial system. With a $652 million cut, there will be 56 court rooms closing – 24 criminal courts, 24 civil courts, four juvenile delinquency courts, three family courts, one probate court, and all 13 informal traffic courts for youth. But it’s not just the courts affected by the budget cuts. Los Angeles is a prime example of a court system that needs the economy to rise.
Since there are fewer courts to hold hearings, more and more cases are being backed up and receiving little to no attention. There are people who have to wait up to one year to get a court date, and even up to three years to finalize a divorce. Judges are estimated to take only a few minutes to review a case and make a decision that will affect a person or family’s life forever.
The time pressure is especially high in family law matters, when dealing with foster children, child custody, and children with special needs. Parents with a hold on their case are increasingly uneasy about how to approach their issue. In Los Angeles, some attorneys are representing up to 240 children, where the recommended caseload is only 160 children. Furthermore, attorneys have a hard time turning down a case, which continues to impede the hearing process. From the shortage of courtrooms to the employees laid off, it is evident how the budget cuts have influenced the judicial system. We continue to do our best to ensure that we give each and every family the attention they deserve. We hope the economy rises faster than is expected and families are given the time they need and deserve in the Los Angeles court system.