California's Courts Close, But We're Still Working for Accountability
Los Angeles court employees drove overnight to join nearly 200 people from across the state in San Francisco on a historic day of court closures. California's courts stayed open even during the Great Depression, but budget cuts have shut them down one day a month.
Court reporters and other employees who work directly with the public spoke up for the millions of Californians who depend on Court services. They asked the Administrative Office of the Courts, which controls Superior Court budgets, to open its books and share its priorities with the public. Click here to learn more about our efforts to hold the AOC accountable.
"The courts are a public agency and we're asking them to tell the public how much money they really have and why they're not spending it to keep courts open."
>>Joyce Bryant, CSA III
"Court cases are on the rise in this recession, and struggling families and businesses need the court more than ever."
>>Ebonie Radcliff, Court Service Assistant II
"Our courts handle 3 million cases a day and when they are closed the public's business can't get done."
>>Eduardo Fonseca, CSA III
"Closing courts hurts public safety because criminal cases could be dismissed because of missed timelines."
>>Buford James, Court Reporter
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