The Los Angeles County Superior Court is responding to “significant” state budget cuts by reducing the number of services they offer.
Governor Gavin Newsom signed California’s 2024 budget on Saturday and called it “more fiscally responsible,” saying that the $16 billion in spending cuts will help close the state’s $47 billion deficit.
Newsom’s office added that the budget will “[protect] the progress” made on housing prices, homelessness, education, healthcare and other top priorities.
However, not included in the budget is enough money for the L.A. County Superior Court’s Fiscal Year 2024-2025; according to court officials, the cuts will result in an approximate $30.3 million reduction to their operating budget.
The court system is also set to sustain a $3.9 million reduction in state-funded initiatives such as the Community Assistance, Recovery and Empowerment (CARE) Act and pre-trial release programs.
And it’s not just L.A. County – which makes up the largest trial court in the state and the country – that will likely be affected by the new spending plan, as the budget “broadly reduced” funding for government operations statewide, including trial courts, by nearly eight percent.
“Make no mistake, the cuts to California’s trial courts in the Fiscal Year 2024-2025 state budget are concerning and consequential,” Presiding Judge Samantha P. Jessner said in a statement issued Monday. “While the court is leveraging every tool at its disposal to minimize impacts on core services…staffing reductions will no doubt impact the court’s ability to provide timely and efficient access to justice for Los Angeles County residents.”
Thanks to the court system’s “historically prudent” financial planning, layoffs this year will be narrowly avoided, officials said, however future cuts are expected to result in the elimination of existing vacant positions, broad restrictions on non-critical expenses and the delay or elimination of certain special projects.
In response to the cuts, the Los Angeles County Superior Court announced the implementation of a Voluntary Separation Incentive Program (VSIP) for eligible employees to voluntarily elect to leave court service so the court can further reduce operating expenses with salary savings.
The VSIP, which launched Monday, offers current full-time, regular status court employees with five or more years of continuous service a one-time payment of $35,000 to resign; eligible employees must apply for the program, and those approved must resign on or before Oct. 1.
L.A. County Superior Court Executive Officer and Clerk of Court David W. Slayton hopes that a “sufficient” number of employees will apply for the VSIP to minimize the impact of the service reduction.
“The court does not have the option of simply refusing to provide access to justice – it is our Constitutional obligation,” Slayton said. “Significant reductions in funding like this one impact our ability to effectively fulfill our mission.”
According to officials, court users should expect reduced or delayed service because of staffing reductions and other operational cuts. In addition to longer lines at clerk’s office windows, delays in call center response times and legal document processing are also expected.
For more information, follow the court on Instagram or visit their website.