Recently, the Los Angeles Superior Court announced substantial staff cuts and courtroom closures. Resources have been dwindling for quite some time. In April the Court announced it plans for the most significant reduction of services in its history. By June 30, the Court will reduce its staff by nearly 350 workers and close 56 courtrooms. Notices have already gone out in certain types of cases that court reporters will not be made available at all hearings. Litigants will have to arrange for their own court reporters at their own expense in some proceedings. Alternative dispute resolution mechanisms like mediation and arbitration will no doubt flourish with these cutbacks. Litigants who want their matters resolved quickly will look to these alternative means for resolving disputes. But certain cases, like family law cases, will still need to be resolved by judges. With the animosity which exists amongst spouses, continued battles within the courts is in my opinion likely to prevail.
The result will be more court appearances being necessary because the courts will not be able to get to everyone’s case on the calendar. Trials in family law cases will be set over a longer period of time in a piecemeal fashion. And those trials will take a back seat to other matters which come before the court on a daily basis like domestic violence restraining orders.
The courts will however remain opened and cases will not be dismissed simply because of the budgetary cut backs. But the courts will by necessity have to become a lot more creative in disposing of cases in a more efficient manner. Hopefully justice will continue to prevail.
For all of your family law and business litigation needs, please call the Law Offices of Richard A. Marcus at 661-257-8877.