Newton Independent
The Iowa Supreme Court today ordered that all judges, magistrates and court staff take 10 days of unpaid leave over the course of the final seven months of the fiscal year to deal with state's revenue shortfalls.
In addition, the Supreme Court ordered that all court offices be closed on the days designated for mandatory unpaid leave. The first court closure date is scheduled for Friday, Dec. 4.
The move is anticipated to reduce judicial branch operating expenses by $4.1 million this fiscal year. The court said additional cost-cutting measures will be announced later this week. Earlier this year, court offices were closed for five days to meet previous state budget cuts.
"We designed the court closure schedule to minimize the impact of closures on the public as much as possible," said State Court Administrator David Boyd. "Regrettably, the closures will disrupt and reduce public access to the courts. There will be gaps in services and more delays and backlogs will grow. But under the circumstances these problems are unavoidable. The state's budget crisis demands drastic action."
A full copy of the Supreme Court's announcement, including the dates of the 10 mandatory unpaid leave and court closure days, can be read here.
