While Gov. Jerry Brown due to budget difficulties wants to save $240 million by delaying new court construction, members of both the establishment California Judges Association and the influential splinter group Alliance of California Judges are divided over whether to halt the construction projects, reports the
Daily Journal.
Many judges from the smaller courts around the state are pushing for the continuation of the building projects financed by the courthouse construction fund, which takes in some $321 million annually in court fees and penalties. But judges from larger courts want to use the money to keep existing courts open. All fear that like last year, the state will divert the funds to pay for its general obligations. Already, Brown, in addition to halting court construction, is pushing to cut $544 million from the trial courts and $300 million from their reserves, reports the
Sacramento Bee.
