Budget cuts to close Iowa courts for 10 days

In the latest fallout from the state's budget crunch, the Iowa Supreme Court on Tuesday ordered judges, magistrates and other staffers to take 10 days of unpaid furloughs by next June.

The unpaid days will be scattered through the next seven months and will force the state's court system to close on the designated days.

"Regrettably, the closures will disrupt and reduce public access to the courts," said state Court Administrator David Boyd. "There will be gaps in services and more delays and backlogs will grow. But under the circumstances, these problems are unavoidable."

Chief Justice Marsha Ternus has said layoffs also are inevitable, and spokesman Steve Davis said an announcement will be made Thursday detailing the number of jobs that will be lost.

The cuts come as other state agencies are responding to a 10 percent across-the-board budget reduction ordered by Gov. Chet Culver. The governor made that move in response to plunging tax revenue this fall as Iowa remained mired in a sluggish economy.

Although the governor doesn't control the Judicial Branch budget, the Legislature appropriates money to the courts and the agency must deal with the same financial realities facing the rest of state government.

The furloughs and court closures, which begin Dec. 4 and continue once or twice a month through June 18, will save $4.1 million. Most of the furlough days are on Fridays, and some are on typically quiet days before holidays.

Ternus had previously said court officials would need to cut $16 million from the court budget, indicating significant layoffs are possible. She said 95 percent of the court system's budget is for personnel.

"The state's budget crisis demands drastic action," said Boyd.

Court staffers noted that in emergency cases, chief judges of each district have the authority to assign judges and magistrates to be available on days the system is closed.

The furloughs are the latest cutback to hit workers.

"This action is particularly painful because we have already had five days of unpaid leave and court closures earlier this year to cope with a mid-year cut," Boyd said.

The Legislature in March reduced the court's budget by $3.8 million, forcing those five furlough days.

-- Associated Press