State Budget Cuts Affect 17th Judicial District

You are probably aware by now that the Clerk’s Office is closed every day between noon and 1:00. But there are many other ways that the State’s budget woes are affecting 17^th Judicial District employees and services. Division staff not answering the phone? Haven’t received a ruling on your motion? That could be due to a hiring freeze that has been in place since last July. The 17^th Judicial District currently has eleven division staff vacancies that will remain unfilled, indefinitely, and two vacant clerk’s office positions. Or it could be due to the furlough policy—courthouse employees are required to take off one day a month without pay.

Other impacts of the State budget crunch:

• Court appointed counsel fees lowered
• No training budget for justice center employees
• Vacant magistrate position
• File room closes at 4:00 each day
• No free lunches for juries in deliberation

So please be prepared, and be patient!