To: Governor Gavin Newsom
No More Cuts to Our Justice System
As a California resident and voter, I ask you, Governor Brown, to restore funding to our justice system to ensure everyone gets their day in court.
Relentless budget cuts to the courts over the last five years have disproportionately hurt the most vulnerable Californians – the very young, the elderly, the disabled, victims of domestic violence and the poor. From landlord-tenant disputes to custody battles to foster and adoption cases, access to justice will be further delayed, if not altogether denied, with the impending next round of cuts you have proposed.
In LA County Superior Courts alone, another $85 million in proposed cuts will force the closure of at least eight additional courthouses and cause further “hubbing” across the Southland. Again, those with the least will be hurt the most. For example, lower-income residents who cannot afford private dispute resolution services will need to take multiple buses and trains to reach the “closest” courthouse—i.e., a Van Nuys resident would travel to Santa Monica and a South Central LA resident would travel to Sylmar —and in the event one of their buses comes late – they will arrive ten minutes after their hearing time to find their case has been dismissed by default.
There are countless other examples. Parents seeking visitations with their children are already waiting up to a year or more for their court dates and a final ruling by the judge. Imagine what even longer wait times will mean in the life of a young child hoping to see his mother or father.
There will be unintended consequences, as well, including the fact that critical fiscal efficiencies such as the processing of mass adoptions in a single “Adoption Day” will be lost – defeating your desired budget savings.
As for our Legislature, they can pass as many laws as they want – but how will the laws be enforced in the courts without sufficient staffing or courtrooms?
Governor, we believe that you care about effective delivery of services and that you subscribe to the basic democratic principle, “justice for all.” Given the time-sensitive nature of the impending closures and consolidation, therefore, we are asking you to immediately reconsider your proposals for further cutbacks, closures and consolidation.
Relentless budget cuts to the courts over the last five years have disproportionately hurt the most vulnerable Californians – the very young, the elderly, the disabled, victims of domestic violence and the poor. From landlord-tenant disputes to custody battles to foster and adoption cases, access to justice will be further delayed, if not altogether denied, with the impending next round of cuts you have proposed.
In LA County Superior Courts alone, another $85 million in proposed cuts will force the closure of at least eight additional courthouses and cause further “hubbing” across the Southland. Again, those with the least will be hurt the most. For example, lower-income residents who cannot afford private dispute resolution services will need to take multiple buses and trains to reach the “closest” courthouse—i.e., a Van Nuys resident would travel to Santa Monica and a South Central LA resident would travel to Sylmar —and in the event one of their buses comes late – they will arrive ten minutes after their hearing time to find their case has been dismissed by default.
There are countless other examples. Parents seeking visitations with their children are already waiting up to a year or more for their court dates and a final ruling by the judge. Imagine what even longer wait times will mean in the life of a young child hoping to see his mother or father.
There will be unintended consequences, as well, including the fact that critical fiscal efficiencies such as the processing of mass adoptions in a single “Adoption Day” will be lost – defeating your desired budget savings.
As for our Legislature, they can pass as many laws as they want – but how will the laws be enforced in the courts without sufficient staffing or courtrooms?
Governor, we believe that you care about effective delivery of services and that you subscribe to the basic democratic principle, “justice for all.” Given the time-sensitive nature of the impending closures and consolidation, therefore, we are asking you to immediately reconsider your proposals for further cutbacks, closures and consolidation.
Why is this important?
California's courts have endured relentless budget cuts over the past five years, with catastrophic impacts on the public -- and disproportionately affecting the poor, the disabled, the elderly and the very young. This is our third branch of government and a basic tenet of democracy is: Justice for All. We demand that Governor Brown restore funding to the courts and stop the next round of budget cuts, scheduled to take effect in the coming weeks.