Illinois Courts Notify Workers Of Possible Layoffs
From the Associated Press
Just two weeks remain before money to keep Illinois courts operating runs out, and a judge in the western part of the state has told some court employees that they will be laid off if lawmakers and Gov. Bruce Rauner don't reach a deal on closing a budget gap.
James Stewart, chief judge of the 9th Judicial Circuit based in Macomb, told The Associated Press on Tuesday that six out of 10 court reporters could be let go at the month's end. The four reporters who remain would only work approximately three days a week. Two counties in the six-county circuit would conduct hearings and trials strictly with electronic recordings.
"We're desperate," said Stewart, who personally broke the news to the affected reporters. "To keep the courts open and some ability to make a record for the next three months, this was a drastic plan."
State money to pay court reporters runs out this month, part of the $1.6 billion deficit in the current state budget that the Republican governor and majority Democrats in the General Assembly have tussled over for weeks without resolution.
The Supreme Court, with administrative authority over the trial courts, requested each of the state's 23 circuits to develop contingency plans, due to the Administrative Office of the Illinois Courts by Friday.
"They asked the chief judges to develop emergency operation plans to try to find some interim solution to extend the period of time before operations must be drastically altered or closed," court spokesman Joseph Tybor said.
Tybor was unaware of any circuits issuing layoff notices to court reporters, but Stewart said he had talked to several chief judges who had delivered the painful message.
Read more in our daily News Update...
From the Associated Press
Just two weeks remain before money to keep Illinois courts operating runs out, and a judge in the western part of the state has told some court employees that they will be laid off if lawmakers and Gov. Bruce Rauner don't reach a deal on closing a budget gap.
James Stewart, chief judge of the 9th Judicial Circuit based in Macomb, told The Associated Press on Tuesday that six out of 10 court reporters could be let go at the month's end. The four reporters who remain would only work approximately three days a week. Two counties in the six-county circuit would conduct hearings and trials strictly with electronic recordings.
"We're desperate," said Stewart, who personally broke the news to the affected reporters. "To keep the courts open and some ability to make a record for the next three months, this was a drastic plan."
State money to pay court reporters runs out this month, part of the $1.6 billion deficit in the current state budget that the Republican governor and majority Democrats in the General Assembly have tussled over for weeks without resolution.
The Supreme Court, with administrative authority over the trial courts, requested each of the state's 23 circuits to develop contingency plans, due to the Administrative Office of the Illinois Courts by Friday.
"They asked the chief judges to develop emergency operation plans to try to find some interim solution to extend the period of time before operations must be drastically altered or closed," court spokesman Joseph Tybor said.
Tybor was unaware of any circuits issuing layoff notices to court reporters, but Stewart said he had talked to several chief judges who had delivered the painful message.
Read more in our daily News Update...