Fla. Courts Facing $72.3M Deficit

[The Straight Story]

Fla. Courts Facing $72.3M Deficit

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. -- Florida's court system has frozen hiring and is bracing for possible staff furloughs due to a $72.3 million deficit blamed on a shortfall in filing fees after mortgage foreclosure cases dramatically declined.

Supreme Court Chief Justice Charles Canady last week wrote letters released Monday to Gov. Rick Scott and legislative budget leaders asking for a $21.7 million supplemental appropriation and $42.5 million in budget transfers to make sure vital functions continue through June 30, when the fiscal year ends.

"To meet the current funding crisis, the judicial branch has already implemented an emergency branch-wide hiring freeze and an emergency operating budget freeze," Canady wrote.

If those steps aren't approved, furloughing court personnel would be next.

http://www.clickorlando.com/news/27265924/detail.html#

[RUMMYisFROSTED]

1. Join the crowd.

[jschurchin]

2. It's that fucking Judges Union

Yeah thats the problem. Get rid of the judges, problem solved.

:sarcasm:

Just in case.

[no_hypocrisy]

3. This should really slow down things that matter . . .

Divorces, collections, breach of contract, evictions, medical malpractice, you name it.

If you could only appreciate how many people it takes to effectuate "justice" . . .

[Angry Dragon]

4. Maybe the judges need to take a pay cut

just a thought

[gratuitous]

5. Here's where you put those tax cuts to good use

No cops, no courts, no jails. So, with the extra $6.23 you get every month from your wonderful Republican tax cuts, you can spend it on home security. It might not go very far, but the alternative (higher taxes) is just too horrible to contemplate. Hunker down, bunker down, Florida.

[madfloridian]

6. Here you go...just like they said they would do..strip courts of power

http://southfloridalawyers.blogspot.com/2011/03/florida-legislature-to-strip-courts-of.html

[StarburstClock]

7. "Vital functions" like imprisoning pot smokers and collecting ticket fines?

Not to mention letting white collar criminals walk and rigging elections.